Mark Thompson's move to Essendon appears imminent, with new Bombers coach James Hird saying today he was hopeful the former Geelong coach would soon make a move to Windy Hill to join him in a mentoring role.

Speaking for the first time since taking over the reins at Essendon last month, Hird said he had spoken to Thompson two weeks ago and the club was waiting on a decision from the dual premiership coach, after Thompson returns from his current break from the game.

When asked whether he thought Thompson would become part of the revamped coaching panel, Hird was cautiously optimistic.

"I hope so, but I couldn't tell you one way or the other whether he is going to come. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago ... When we have something positive and definitive we will come and say it," Hird said.

"To my knowledge there hasn't been a contract signed. I know Mark's on a break at the moment and we're respectful of that."

Hird reiterated the notion that Thompson's experience and match-day nous would be of tremendous value to him, as a rookie coach, and his fledgling coaching panel that included Simon Goodwin, Dean Wallis and Brendan McCartney in the coming years.

"There's no doubt, and I've said that all along he would be a fantastic asset, he would be someone great to have on board moving forward," Hird said.

There has been growing speculation that the former Geelong coach would cross to Windy Hill after resigning unexpectedly from the Cats in September, citing fatigue and burnout.

Several media outlets have even speculated that a deal was done before the Thompson quit Geelong.

The former Essendon back pocket and premiership captain, who coached Geelong for 11 years and took them to three Grand Finals, has said that he will step away from the game for a period of time.

At his media conference, Hird highlighted the challenges that face his team over the coming seasons. He said as a priority he would be focussing on educating his players in attacking and defensive strategies. And he also foreshadowed a very hard summer on the training track. 

"It's really about improvement; everything we do is about improvement and hard work,'' he said. ''It's about working on the defensive side of our game and working on the offensive side of our game and we need to get both sides up to scratch."

"At this point in the year it's all about hard work and really making sure that everything you do will hold you in good stead from March through to September.

"I'm very happy with their fitness levels, but every team can get fitter. We have a young group that's in a development mode in terms of their fitness and they will get better before we start round one."

Captain Jobe Watson, veteran Dustin Fletcher and other senior players including Mark McVeigh, Angus Monfries and Paddy Ryder were all present at the club's training at Essendon Grammar's ground at Keilor Park.