For all the progress Essendon has made under his reign, Coach John Worsfold says the next challenge shapes as the Club’s most difficult.

The Bombers are aiming to progress from finalist to premiership contender.

The 2017 campaign came to a sudden end after a 65 point loss to Sydney in the Elimination Final put a full stop on a Comeback Story highlighted by thrilling wins, passionate support and exciting talent but ultimately tempered by a sour September exit.

“The Club has taken the first step in where we want to get to but the next step may be the hardest – it won’t just be easy next year,” Worsfold said.

“We’ve taken the first step forward and it gets steeper and harder but we’re prepared for the climb.”

Essendon’s return to the finals ended a two year September hiatus but the loss to the Swans means the wait for a finals victory will enter a 14^th season.

The Bombers entered the post-season having won six of their last eight matches but ran into the hottest team in the competition.

Sydney flexed its muscle in a dominant second term that yielded ten goals and three behinds, from 17 forward 50 entries.

“The main thing I’m taking out of it is that we’ve got to get better as a Club, as a playing group,” Worsfold said.

“We’ve got to keep learning, growing and getting better.

“We’re not here to qualify for the finals, we’re here to win a premiership.

“To do that we have to improve.

“It’s now a matter of how we put that into action and we’ve got to make sure we don’t forget those lessons in the next six to eight weeks.”