James Hird arrived at the True Value Solar Centre for his first day back at the club on Monday morning following his 12-month suspension.

Hird said he was excited to return to the club after serving his ban.

“It is exciting to walk back in the club and be back finally,”Hird said.

“I am excited to come back to work and there is a lot of work to do so I am looking forward to getting back into it.”

He said he was focused on 2015, with Mark Thompson to continue as senior coach for the remainder of the 2014 season, including the finals campaign.

"The roles are pretty well defined - Bomber is the coach until the end of the year and he has done a fantastic job," Hird said.

"I'm so proud of the players, they way they have played and the whole club, the way they have performed the whole year.

"It won't be hard, I'm concentrating on 2015 and there is a lot of work to do."

Seventh-placed Essendon is almost certain to play in the finals for the first time in three years, having been banned from last year's September action.

Hird also said he hoped Thompson would remain at the club next season, although the two-time Geelong premiership mentor said last week he was unsure whether there would be a role for him.

"We'd all like Bomber to stay on, particularly, I'd like him to stay on - he is obviously a great coach, he's been terrific for the players this year and for the whole club this year," Hird said.

"It's not just his decision or my decision it is also the club's decision - but everybody at Essendon would like him to stay."

Hird's suspension was part of an AFL-imposed penalty over the club's supplements saga, which is now before the courts.

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