Essendon forward Cale Hooker expects the Bombers to perform even better in the second half of the season but is not about to get carried away with what might be possible in 2017.
The 28-year-old told AFL.com.au that wins in the past two weeks against top-eight teams West Coast and Geelong were encouraging, but the evenness of the competition made it difficult to predict anything.
"We know in footy not to get too excited because things can change pretty quickly either way," Hooker said
"We're just looking to keep building."
The Bombers won the inside 50 count for the first time in round nine and kicked their highest score since round eight, 2015 and their highest score against the Eagles since 2004.
Hooker kicked two goals to bring his season tally to 16 as he begins to establish himself as a dangerous forward.
He said being part of a forward combination that includes Joe Daniher, Orazio Fantasia, Josh Greene, Travis Colyer and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was exciting.
"If we can keep that settled core group we are only going to get better and better and provide a fair few headaches for the opposition in the future," Hooker said.
Hooker was speaking at Etihad Stadium as the Bombers announced major co-partner Fujitsu General Australia had extended its partnership with the club until 2021.
Fujitsu became a sponsor in 2013 as the club entered one of its darkest periods.
However the Bombers have bounced back to sit 10th on the ladder and after nine rounds only sit outside the top eight on percentage.
Fujitsu's logo will remain on the Bombers' jumper for the length of the agreement and Hooker said the new deal continued the club's emergence from a tough period.
The Bombers have averaged more than 50,000 spectators at their nine games this season and are expected to be big players at the trade table at the end of this season.
Hooker however is focused on this week with Dreamtime at the 'G against Richmond another test for a team that no-one is prepared to judge definitively just yet.
"We always had the view that we are going to be better in the back half of the year than the first half of the year," Hooker said.
