A mix of top end draft choices and key players returning to full fitness has John Worsfold excited about the Bombers prospects in 2016.
The new Coach takes over a side that won six games last season.
But Worsfold told FIVEaa the list is in much better condition than the 2015 ladder position indicates.
“The list is in reasonable shape,” Worsfold said.
“There is going to be a couple of changes.
“The Club is in a position to add some high end young talent on to the list in the immediate future.
“And we’ve still got some good experience at the top end that I think underperformed this year through injury and other reasons."
As it stands the Dons have picks 4, 23, 25, 41 and 59.
“I think we can aim to perform a lot better than we did last year,” Worsfold said.
“But the big picture stuff is to build a premiership winning side and there is a bit of work to go into that, so we’ll get that started straight away as well.”
The premiership coach has held talks with players and football department figures in recent days.
He also caught up with Essendon’s General Manager for Commercial Development and Innovation, Kevin Sheedy.
“He challenged me on a couple of things and I think he was looking to see if my passion was there for the Essendon Football Club and I think he was happy with the result,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to having ‘Sheeds’ around and working on the same team as him.”