The Bombers could manage just nine goals against the Sydney Swans on Friday night as they went down by 50 points, with Thompson saying the Swans were "easily" the best side the Bombers have faced this year. 

Essendon has not kicked more than 10 goals since their 81-point thrashing of Carlton in round three, but Thompson does not appear concerned about the Bombers' lack of firepower. 

"I think it's a work in progress. I don't see it as a big problem at all. Kicking goals will come, and hopefully we kick goals and still don't let the opposition score much," Thompson said on Friday night. 

"That means you're probably going to win most games. And I'm still very optimistic that, being at round nine, we can do that easily."

The Bombers' slow ball movement was an issue Thompson identified as being part of the problem. 

"They take the ball wide and safe, and I don't like it. Good teams just keep on their game and try to move the ball quickly, like Sydney did," he said. 

Essendon had just two multiple goalkickers against the Swans, with Paddy Ryder booting two in one of his better games of the season, and Jake Carlisle chipping in with two in the final term.

Carlisle's night only began late in the third quarter, after he was named Essendon's substitute. 

The out-of-form key-position player was activated when Joe Daniher was subbed out of the game, and Thompson said Carlisle started with the green vest because of team balance after ruckman Tom Bellchambers returned to the line-up. 

"Ryder and Bellchambers are our best two ruckmen/forward combination," Thompson said. 

"[Bellchambers] can mark the ball and kick goals, so clearly he'd done enough work. He'd trained, he'd played in the VFL for two matches and he was ready to play. 

"We didn't know how long he was going to last, and I thought the other danger spot for us was going to be whether their tall forwards got up and going, which they did."

Thompson said there was elements of the game which pleased him, including the Bombers' second and third terms. 

He acknowledged Michael Hurley's second half on Lance Franklin after being beaten to half-time, and thought David Zaharakis (31 disposals) played his best game of the season. 

"I thought he was excellent. He's been struggling in funny little ways which you'll never ever find out," Thompson said of Zaharakis. 

"I think we tried to add something to his game. And in adding something to his game, he lost the other part, which happens sometimes when you focus too much on one thing. 

"That's the Zaharakis we know, and he'll be better for being stressed and doing what we've done with him. They all will be."

Essendon has its bye next weekend, but a rolled ankle to Jake Melksham late in the game could see him miss the club's round 11 encounter with Richmond.