DUAL premiership coach and Essendon assistant Mark Thompson says senior coaches are under pressure like never before.

On Sunday, Thompson told Triple M the demands placed on coaches took their toll and it was little wonder coaches aged on the job.

"It’s just unrelenting," Thompson said.

"I love doing it, I love the game, I love working with people and developing them, for the most part, making them better people.

"I gave it 11 years and I just didn’t want to do it anymore."

The former Geelong coach, who walked away from the club in rather controversial circumstances last year to join the Bombers as James Hird's senior assistant, revealed moving away from the hot seat had improved his outlook on life.

"I feel so much more healthier now that I’m not doing it," he said

"At the end I just didn’t want to do it anymore."

Thompson also offered his support for former Melbourne coach Dean Bailey after the Demons' 186-point capitulation at the hands of his former club.

"I feel sorry for him. He is totally under the pump," Thompson said.

"You sort of sympathise with him and I'm not sure what's going to happen in the next couple of weeks."

On Sunday night, Bailey was sacked by Melbourne.