This week has provided Essendon with unpleasant reminders of what ended their previous two AFL finals series.
In 2013, the Bombers' September campaign was over before it started with the league bigwigs banning the club from taking part due to its controversial injecting program.
In 2014, it was a barnstorming comeback from North Melbourne, who reeled in a 33-point deficit to triumph in a remarkable elimination final at the MCG.
Brent Stanton believes it's only the latter that will be on players' minds when they renew their rivalry with the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
"It hasn't been spoken about in the team meeting, but I certainly think that players will be driving to resurrect that," he said on Thursday.
"We put up a good performance in the first half and sort of fell away in the second half.
"Friday is a pretty important game for us, in terms of where we want to go with our season.
"We've been criticised a little bit in terms of the way we're playing and we want to rectify that."
Both North and Essendon have battled to 3-3 records, impressing and underwhelming in equal measure during the opening six rounds.
The Bombers defeated reigning premiers Hawthorn in round two but have since failed to play at that level, including a last-start loss to Fremantle in Perth.
"We've still played good footy in patches. In those first three weeks it was a consistent effort for four quarters. In the last three weeks it was up and down a little bit," Stanton said.
"That's what we're concentrating on and it's probably been a theme for this football club for a little while."
Stanton dismissed the notion that the World Anti-Doping Agency's decision to appeal the AFL anti-doping tribunal verdict could derail the Bombers' 2015 campaign.
"We came together as soon as we could (after WADA confirmed it would appeal) and spoke about how we're going to go forward and that's .. trying to win games of football," Stanton said.
North are coming off a 35-point win over Richmond, however coach Brad Scott has found himself in the news over allegations he assaulted a security guard during that match.
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