A frank post-season assessment with coach John Worsfold will determine whether Essendon great Jobe Watson extends his AFL career for another year.
The lure of playing in a successful campaign is a carrot for Watson, who hasn't played in a winning final at the Bombers since 2004.
But Watson doesn't see a reason why that can't happen this season, being firmly of the view Essendon's best football is yet to come.
The 32-year-old has been a solid contributor through the campaign, playing 14 of 16 games in the Bombers' 8-8 season to date.
On either form or personal enjoyment, he'd be lining up again in 2018 but Watson says he'll allow Worsfold to have a say at season's end.
" At the start of year I thought it would be dependant on how I'm going and how the team was going - what was best for the group," he said on Tuesday.
"Every player wants to have success ... the way the team is tracking there's certainly a bright future for Essendon supporters.
"I can't give you an answer about how I feel now because I haven't spoke to the appropriate people (but) I'm enjoying being here and being involved."
Watson was one of the Bombers sidelined for the 2015 season due to his involvement in the club's 2012 doping scandal.
That's meant a tough adjustment back into the AFL but on the evidence of Friday night's 61-point thumping of fellow finals aspirant St Kilda, it's starting to click.
"There was 12 guys that I hadn't played a game of football with going into round one," he said.
"To be able to be predictable to each other is not something that is manufactured, it actually makes a difference.
"I always thought we'd be better in the second half of the year and I think that's starting to show."
Watson says his experience, including time out of the game, brought home the fleeting nature of an AFL career.
"The older you get the more you realise the importance of time. That perspective of how long a career can go without having success," he said.
"We're 8-8. We've got control over our own destiny.
"We've maintained a reasonably healthy list. We're starting to play a better style of football.
"There's no reason any group in the top 12 or 14 doesn't feel like they can beat anyone above them."
After being managed and missing the St Kilda match, Watson said he would be "ready to go" on Saturday against North Melbourne.
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