ESSENDON is working on the final-quarter fade-outs that cost the Bombers five wins in 2014 including an elimination final choke.

Goddard said the issue had been raised during the pre-season.

He also said the Bombers would adopt a more attacking game plan under James Hird and recruits Adam Cooney and James Gwilt provided an instant talent injection to a team entering its premiership window.

Essendon lost four games last season after leading at three-quarter time and drew another, against Carlton in Round 23.

Against the Kangaroos in the first week of the finals the Bombers held a nine-point lead at the last change but were outscored 5.4 to 2.1 in the final term as Drew Petrie inspired a North Melbourne comeback.

On the other side of the ledger Essendon won three matches after training at three-quarter time, but all were against teams that missed the finals: West Coast, the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane.

“Last year we lost four out of five games we were leading at three-quarter time, I think, and I put it down to maturity,” Goddard said after a draining training session at Tullamarine.

“Guys are in that position more often, they’ve been in that position, so they know what to expect.

“We’ve gone away and looked at those things.

“It’s little things like that that make the team better each year, and this group is getting to a position where they’re old enough, history suggests they’re in the right age and games played, so in the next few years you’d expect the team to be performing well.”

media_camera Brendon Goddard puts in the hard yards at pre-season training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Goddard said fans could expect a more attacking style under Hird than seen last year with Mark Thompson in charge. Essendon averaged 83.1 points a game in 2014, ranked 12th in the AFL.

“There’ll be some slight tweaks but we’re trying to move the ball slightly differently offensively,” he said. “Defensively we’re trying to work on essentially the same things.”

He said Cooney was “in the best shape of his life” and Gwilt would add big-game experience to the backline.

“If you were here today watching match practice he’s smart, he’s a good ball-user,” said Goddard, a former teammate of Gwilt at St Kilda.

“He’s got a wealth of experience, he’s played in big games and he’s played well in big games — 2009, 2008 finals series Jim played some terrific games, so his experience is going to add another string to the bow down back, so to speak. He just adds more depth, puts more pressure on guys to perform.”

FINAL-QUARTER FADE-OUTS

Elimination final v North Melbourne

Three-quarter time: Led by 9

Result: Lost by 12

R23 v Carlton

Three-quarter time: Led by 7

Result: Draw

R15 v Geelong

Three-quarter time: Led by 4

Result: Lost by 9

R13 v Melbourne

Three-quarter time: Led by 12

Result: Lost by 1

R2 v Hawthorn

Three-quarter time: Led by 3

Result: Lost by 4