Essendon forward Paul Chapman concedes continued improvement from the entire team is vital for the Bombers to make an impact in what looks likely to be their first finals campaign since 2011.

It will be Chapman’s eighth consecutive finals series after joining the Bombers from Geelong at the end of the 2013 season.

“It’s is why I play the game (to play finals football),” said Chapman.

“The weather starts to get nicer and it is easier with the muscles warming up a bit quicker.”

“If we are going to play finals we need to be better, that is pretty much the message that we got after the game.”

“Hopefully we can get there first and then win one.”

Essendon sit in outright seventh position on the ladder with one round in the home-and-away season remaining after grinding out a 19-point win over Gold Coast last weekend.

The 32-year-old has played 18 out of a possible 21 games in 2014 and is confident in his body being fit for September.

“The body is feeling good, but it is tough and the older you get the harder it gets,” said Chapman.

“The club has managed me really well but it is finals footy and I just can’t wait to play it again.”

Senior coach Mark Thompson, who coached Chapman to six of his eight finals series with Geelong, commended the veteran’s hunger for the contest after his his 269^th game on the weekend. 

“You just have to love people that are so competitive, and we all love him,” said Thompson

“He wants to be where the ball is, he wants to kick the goal and he wants to win.”

“It is great that people still have that attitude.”

“For some people it just goes and when it goes you have to finish but with Chappy it’s far from finished.”