Essendon champion Jobe Watson says a win against Sydney would provide further confirmation of the positive direction the Club is heading in. 

The Bombers take on the Swans on Saturday in what will be the side’s first finals appearance since 2014.

Watson was a member of that campaign and he was also part of the Dons last finals victory in 2004.

“I feel like, not only personally it would be good to be part of a winning final again, but it will also show where the Club is heading,” Watson told The Footy Panel.

“The Club is heading in a really strong direction and the foundation has been built solidly over the last few years and I think that (a win) would solidify the Club is heading in a good direction.”

The Bombers have posted record membership this season and averaged crowds of more than 50,000 people at their home games.

Watson, who announced his retirement last month, has played 19 games this season.

He was rested in round 22 but returned to the side for the match against Fremantle and picked up 26 possessions.

“I feel fresh – I had the week off against the Gold Coast, came back and played that one game (against Fremantle) and then had another week off,” he said.

“Our group is feeling good, the body is feeling good and we’re just really excited. 

“It’s (the rest) made a difference to me and maybe it has been exacerbated by having 12 months out of the game … I think it probably has.

“I certainly feel like after a break the body feels fresh. That’s probably been the toughest thing I’ve found is trying to back up every week." 

The Bombers enter the finals series having won six of their last eight matches, while the Swans have only dropped two games since round six.

A one-point victory over the Bombers in round 14 was a part of that streak.

Watson said the Dons would look back at that match this week and while game styles change throughout the season, he expects to face a typically hard-nosed Swans side.

“I think they’re probably going better than what they were when we played them in the middle of the year,” he said.

“They’ve been the form team after round six really.

“But I feel we match up against them well and there are some things that we will try to do that will hopefully give us a chance to win the game.

“We’re under no illusions how strong they are and how tough it’s going to be but we’re certainly confident we can go out and play the style we want.

“They are a very hard, contested side. They play a really honest brand of football, they’re a really good two-way team and they’ve got talent all over the ground.

“It’s going to be a big job for us but we feel like we’ve got a group that is capable of beating anyone.”