ESSENDON coach James Hird is already seeing improvements in his players after just one month of pre-season training.

The rookie coach said he wasn't "flogging" his players, but was putting them through a tough summer regime that was already paying dividends.

"There are so many that have improved already that we're looking forward to a good year," he said on Friday when the club unveiled its five new draftees at Windy Hill.

"There's been a lot of guys [impressing]. Our senior guys with Jobe [Watson] and [Heath] Hocking and [Mark] McVeigh and [Angus] Monfries have all been working really hard.

"Jason Winderlich has been working hard and from a younger point of view, Leroy Jetta is as well.

"It's the balance of working hard and also making sure they recover properly and they get through a full season."

Hird also says the players are picking up the basic principles of the way he wants them to play in 2011.

"It's no secret that contested footy and defence is about winning games of football," he said.

"And, if you can't kick the ball, then you're really not going to do that well.

"That's the basic structure and principals of it but how we train and get the players to play that way is coming together as we train.

"You've also got to tailor your game style to the types of players you've got and we're doing that as we go."

The Bombers announced former Geelong coach Mark Thompson as the final addition to their new coaching panel just over two weeks ago but he is yet to formally commence his duties.

Hird said he wasn't sure when the two-time premiership coach would hit the track with the players.

"He's on holidays at the moment and when he gets back we'll all find out," he said.

Hird has previously said he expects Thompson to be in place before Christmas.