A proud John Worsfold has pledged that defeated Essendon are prepared for the steepest section of their AFL renaissance.
The Bombers' transformation from 2016 wooden-spooners to 2017 finalists ended with a thump against Sydney on Saturday in a dejecting finish for retiring greats Jobe Watson and James Kelly.
But while the 65-point elimination-final drubbing was tough to take, the coach left the SCG pitch with crystallised resolve about what comes next.
"We've got to get better, as a club and a playing group," Worsfold said.
"We've got to keep growing and learning because we're not here to qualify for the finals, we're here to win a premiership. To do that we have to improve.
"The club has taken the first step towards where we want to get to but the next step might be the hardest.
"It won't just be easy again next year ... it gets steeper and harder but we're prepared for that climb."
Nevertheless, Worsfold won't let the lopsided contest take away from unforeseen gains.
At the start of this season, the Bombers were the league's biggest unknown, with 10 players back from a year-long doping ban and a bunch of newer faces thrown in.
That Essendon overcame those odds to become the fifth VFL/AFL team since 1923 -- and the first since West Coast in 2011 -- to make the finals one year after claiming the wooden spoon is an immense source of pride.
"(The loss) doesn't impact anything," Worsfold said.
"There's been massive gains made by the whole footy club in so many areas.
"We lost today against a very good team. We came down to the wire in terms of making the eight ... so it was a bit of a mismatch in terms of experience and finals nous."
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