Essendon is starting to develop the midfield depth it needs to challenge the competition's best teams, Bombers coach James Hird says.

Hird said on Wednesday the acquisition of Brendon Goddard in last year's free agency period and the continued development of Dyson Heppell would bolster the Bombers' midfield in 2013.

"You look at in the top teams in the competition and they have got depth through the midfield," Hird said.

"And with Jobe (Watson), Brent Stanton, Dyson Heppell and Brendon Goddard, we're getting some real depth through there now."

Hird said Heppell would be given the chance to become a key onballer for the Bombers this season, after getting a taste in the midfield last year.

"We're hoping he can play a big midfield role – that's why we recruited him," Hird said.

"Obviously he played his first year exclusively across half-back and had a terrific year, winning the NAB Rising Star.

"Then last year he played 30-40 per cent in the midfield and this year we expect him to do more."

Hird confirmed key-position player Michael Hurley would start this season in attack given the Bombers' wealth of tall options in defence.

But Hird said he would not necessarily look to settle Hurley as a forward.

"I come from the Kevin Sheedy school of football, so obviously flexibility is important in that school," Hird said.

"We'll see how it evolves and Michael is still in football terms a very young man, having played just over 50 games and had some interruptions with injury.

"So getting continuity and consistency into his game is important."

After two seasons and three pre-seasons at the helm of the Bombers, Hird said he was content his game-plan – complete with a few "slight adjustments" each year – had "clicked" with his players.

Hird said he was also content that after making the tough call to delist experienced players such as Sam Lonergan, Brent Prismall, Kyle Reiers, Ricky Dyson and Henry Slattery at the end of last season his playing list was "getting towards" where he wanted it to be.

"We're still a reasonably young list. I think without Dustin Fletcher we're about 10^th or 11^th in terms of age of list, so we've got a little bit of work to do," Hird said.

"Obviously the game moves and you've got to move with it, so you can't be stubborn enough to say everything you're doing is right.

"But it's also an evolution of the players getting bigger and stronger, getting fitter and also being able to play the way you want them to play."