Essendon coach Ben Rutten says the Bombers will embrace the challenge of attempting to win their first AFL final in 17 years.
The Bombers face the Western Bulldogs in their elimination match in Launceston on Sunday, acutely aware they haven't won a final since their 2004 victory over Melbourne.
They lost that year's semi-final to Geelong and have since fallen short in five elimination finals, along with missing the finals 11 times.
"That's just something that comes with our footy club but we've also won 16 premierships," Rutten said.
"That's part of being at the Essendon footy club and part of what our players have really embraced throughout the course of the season is really embracing our history and reconnecting there and bringing a lot of that with us.
"But they're also really clear that this next chapter in history hasn't been written yet, and we're on a journey when we want to achieve something really special."
Rutten has consistently maintained he's put no ceiling on the Bombers' potential and they shape as a finals wildcard, especially after beating the Bulldogs just two weeks ago.
"We've prepared ourselves for this, and I think we've given ourselves every opportunity," he said.
"Our last month in particular has been a really important month for us just with where we've come from, as a group and how our season's gone so far.
"The last month's certainly been the most consistent month we've played all season and I think the guys will take a lot of belief and confidence into the next month."
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti played a full scratch match against GWS on Sunday morning but Rutten said Essendon would "keep assessing" whether he would return for the final.
The forward has missed Essendon's past two matches for personal reasons and has been managed through a heavy training block.
"As much as anything, my job as a coach is to set him up to be successful," Rutten said.
"When we select him I want to make sure that the environment's good, he's in a good place, he's happy. That's what's going to make him play his best footy."
Jye Caldwell played a full scratch match -where retiring veteran Cale Hooker impressed - for the first time since his serious hamstring injury in round two, while Kyle Langford (hamstring) will be assessed after missing three games.
Rutten is optimistic a large contingent of Essendon supporters would turn up in Launceston, as they did for the Bombers' win over Hawthorn earlier this year.
