Michael Hurley set to play as a permanent defender under Essendon coach Mark Thompson ESSENDON swing man Michael Hurley hopes to establish himself as a key defender under Mark Thompson. Hurley says the stand-in coach's hunger is evident and he's putting his own stamp on the side despite persisting with the same game plan as James Hird. Hurley, who's booted 99 goals in his 79 games playing primarily in attack, looks set to spend the 2014 season in the backline. "He (Thompson) has mentioned a few times he wants players to be quite flexible in where they're playing," Hurley said. I've already moved from forward to back so that's one change and it wouldn't surprise me if we see a few different players in different spots. So far I've played every session as backman, so it's been great for me and I've really enjoyed it and I feel like I'm back at home in the backline. I'm getting to play on some really tough players like Paddy Ryder and Joey Daniher so I'm enjoying it. I played my whole junior career as a backman, I just feel really comfortable back there and I'm pretty lucky that the guys I'm playing alongside like Fletch (Dustin Fletcher), Cale Hooker, Jake Carlisle, Tayte Pears, they're all such good players which helps. It would be nice to settle down in the one position, I suppose. But for me I'm happy to play where I'm told to play, if that's up forward so be it, if it's down back, that's great. Michael Hurley has been training with the defenders all pre-season. Hurley said the players were determined to move on from a turbulent and draining 2013 season dominated by the ASADA and AFL investigations. "At the end of last year most players wanted to forget about what went on," he said. The group went away to Colorado and we did some pretty serious training and so far things have been good. Hurley said Thompson, who hasn't coached since quitting Geelong in 2010, has surprised the players with his enthusiasm since replacing Hird. "He's been great, he's been passionate and been pretty hard on the lads at times which is good for us," Hurley said. He's been pretty passionate on the track and vocal and loud. We haven't seen a lot of that in the last few years, he's been more coaching the coaches. Bomber's a very interesting man but he's doing really well. The way we want to play our footy is pretty similar and has been for the last few years. Where should Bomber Thompson play Michael Hurley? Essendon players Michael Hurley and Brendon Goddard get into the action in the Kia marquee at Melbourne Park during the Australian Open.