Michael Hurley expects a more versatile Essendon team to line up for the 2014 season under senior coach Mark Thompson.

A move to defence for Hurley is the first in a number of changes set under Thompson during this season.

“He has mentioned a few times he wants players to be quite flexible in the way we play, not so much the game plan but more so players being able to play in different positions,” Hurley said.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if you see a few blokes in a few different spots.

“Bomber has been pretty passionate, vocal and loud on the track which is great.

“We haven’t seen a lot of that in the last few years so to see him out on the track and demanding things from the players has been great.”

Hurley said the passion of Thompson has been evident throughout the club’s intense pre-season campaign.

“He has been passionate, he has been pretty hard on the lads at times which has been good for us I think,” he said.

“He knows a lot about footy so all the players are trying to learn as much as we can.

“Obviously we can’t get it right every week but we are trying to nail down that game plan so we can play how we want to play.”

The Bombers play their first game of the NAB Challenge against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Monday 17 February.

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