As his veterans start making their intentions clear on 2015, Essendon coach Mark Thompson has far more important things to worry about.
Jason Winderlich announced on Wednesday that this AFL season would be his last, a decision that surprised Thompson given the 29-year-old's form.
Paul Chapman, who will turn 33 in November, has made it clear he wants to play on but Dustin Fletcher has yet to say whether he wants to feature in a stunning 23rd AFL season during which the defender will turn 40 and likely pass the 400-game milestone.
Thompson is set to hand the reins back to club icon James Hird when the current season ends and the two-time premiership coach's plans are unknown beyond that.
Will he stay at Essendon? Will he even stay in the AFL?
"I'm not giving it too much thought. They're busy days and you don't actually get too much time to think about it," Thompson said on Thursday.
"I don't want to distract away from what I'm doing.
"As a club we wanted it not to be a gap year, and it's not. We're still alive with a lot of improvement up our sleeves."
Thompson said it had been a "long year" for everyone in the the industry, but that he was enjoying the final stretch.
"If you're still a chance and (your season is) still alive, then you can jump out of bed and come to work and do whatever you have to do to get through," he added.
"I'm quite excited about the challenge."
That was evident at the pre-match media conference for Friday night's clash with Richmond, with Thompson at his wisecracking and whimsical best.
"I was surprised. I think he's playing fantastic footy. But I'm not with him when he tries to get out of bed every morning," he said of Winderlich's retirement.
"We wanted him to stay, it's all amicable."
Thompson suggested the club would not attempt to influence Fletcher, who will miss the game against the Tigers due to groin and finger injuries.
"That's up to Dustin, it's not up to us," he said.
"He's got to make that decision himself. We'll leave it completely up to him."
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