"I think so. Both of those guys have had very limited experience in the 1500m," he said.

"They have only had a handful of races over that distance."

Thompson said Hurley had all the right attributes for distance swimming after he became Australia's third-fastest swimmer in the event on Sunday.

"He has many of the skills that previous 1500m champions have got," he said.

"We are still yet to see it in the long-course pool but the other day put him right up with the best. It was good for Bobby to race Mellouli and get the better of him."

Also a talented backstroker, Hurley has switched his focus more to his freestyle since moving home to Wollongong from the AIS in Canberra after the world championships.

He said it was up to himself and Napoleon to inspire young swimmers to take up the gruelling training required for distance swimming.

"Not only have we got to fill that gap internationally but try and lead the Australian swimmers so we get that good culture of distance swimming back in Australia," Hurley said.

"We have to lead the way and show them the training we have to do to be competitive on the international stage."

Hurley set the pace with Mellouli about a body length behind and both were well clear at the 850m point. Hurley said he sensed Mellouli was slipping back just a little so he "went for it", increasing the pace noticeably.

Mellouli narrowly beat Hurley in the 400m final on Saturday. Hurley led until the final 50m.