TRIPLE-premiership star James Kelly has felt "invigorated" by the eagerness of Essendon's youngsters to soak up his knowledge since he joined the Bombers as a top-up player.

Kelly was comfortably retired after 273 games for Geelong when Essendon came calling, hoping to tempt the 32-year-old to pull the boots back on in the club's hour of need after 12 Bombers were banned for doping offences.

It wasn't a decision the former Cat took lightly, but Kelly hasn't regretted the move and he played a key role by gathering 28 disposals in the 186th win of his career – and first as a Bomber – in the Dons' stunning 13-point upset of Melbourne last Saturday.

"It was different because it was really exciting for everyone involved," Kelly told SEN radio.

"Over the last few weeks there was a lot of talk that we were going to go through the season and not win a game and be a complete basket-case. Internally, we thought that was probably a bit harsh.

"So it was exciting for a young group to get a win on the board early and give them a bit of confidence that what we've been doing and what we've been training is actually working, we're doing the right thing, and we can win if we play the right way."

Kelly, who only joined the Dons in January, had to forgo his normal preparations and long-distance running for more speed work in the rush to get fit by the start of the season.

He said it was "hard, initially, to get going again", but the grind of rebuilding his running ability had been made easier by the young Bombers' desire to learn from his experience.

"For me, that's really good, that's a bit flattering. But the other side of it is I'm really enjoying being around guys who are so eager to learn … they just love footy, they want to do everything they can and they want to be good players tomorrow," he said.

"Being around young guys who have got that young player drive to do everything is really good for me. It's invigorated me a bit. I'm really enjoying training."

The plucky Bombers were showered with plaudits after bouncing back from an opening round 61-point loss to Gold Coast by upsetting the Demons.

But Melbourne's players – some of whom were called "big-headed" by coach Paul Roos – have been roasted for taking Essendon lightly, with Kelly sensing in the first quarter that the Dees weren't switched on.

"I think early on in games you can pick up whether a team's on or not," he said.

"I had a feeling that maybe they weren't playing their best footy. I watched them play over pre-season and they definitely played better.

"But (they were only) one or two per cent (off). You still have to worry about what you can control.

"You take a little bit of notice, but it's probably not going to win you a game."