DESPITE Essendon being in "uncharted territory" without so many of its best players, the club's morale is incredibly strong, game performance manager Mark Neeld says.
The Bombers, who lost 12 players to season-long anti-doping bans in January, have only won one game this year and sit at the bottom of the ladder with a percentage of just 56. They face the daunting prospect of a clash against West Coast at Domain Stadium on Thursday night.
Neeld won't chase another senior coaching gig
But many at the club believe the pain of this year will eventually develop a significant silver lining, due to so many young draftees and 'top-up' players being given valuable experience when they otherwise wouldn't.
Neeld, who joined Essendon in 2015 and assumed a new role implemented by senior coach John Worsfold, said everyone at the club was remaining positive despite the on-field struggles.
"Because of the environment John has created - one of education and learning and wanting to be challenged - I think the morale is very good," the former Melbourne coach told ESPN.
"I've just come out of an education session with 43 players and the input from the players was as good as I've seen at any footy club I've ever been involved with.
"You certainly can [feel the positivity]."
As well as praising the debut season of No.5 draft pick Darcy Parish and former Cat Mitch Brown's resurgence, Neeld said the impact of the so-called top-up players couldn't be understated.
He said former Geelong great James Kelly had been especially impressive. Kelly joined the Bombers having retired after 273 games for Geelong, but was talked into going around again. The three-time premiership star has added much-needed leadership off the field and on it - where he has averaged 26 possessions, six marks and four tackles a game during what may, or may not be, be a one-off year in black and red.
"Having people in our organisation like James Kelly, Mathew Stokes, Ryan Crowley, Jonathan Simpkin and Mark Jamar has been great for our young players," Neeld said. "They've offered so much as coaches and players. It's [been] great for our playing group.
"Even if they play one year, these guys have come in a position no one's ever been in before, and they've been brilliant.
"John outlined their role and it took some time for them to think it over but they've embraced that role of coming in from day one and being a leader, almost a playing coach, and still expected to lead on the playing track.
"We're a much better football club having James Kelly playing. Are we starting to get rid of players too early? Maybe. I can certainly see the value of having people like that stick around. And he's playing outstanding footy."
The Bombers have netted several key signatures this year and appear set to regain the vast majority of their banned players for the 2017 season.
Neeld said no club had ever had to endure what Essendon had this season, but added he was confident significant gains could be made next year.
"Whatever our group looks like when it's back together, it's going to have a heap of experience in it," he said.
"[We are in] uncharted territory - [it's] not that difficult to have a vision of how we want to play; we're very steadfast in how we want to play defensively, offensively and around the structures, there's absolute clarity there. [But] we're learning a lot about people management this year. Having players join an elite sporting club almost two-thirds of the way through pre-season hasn't been done before, so in terms of having to be across all their training [it has been difficult].
"We have to make sure when the players finish this year and come back for pre-season training, they're fully aware of our values and standards and the way we want to play, so if you're going to re-join or join for the first time, the players need to lead the way."