James Kelly says Essendon are capable of pushing into the top eight next season.

The veteran will run out for his final game of the year tomorrow when the Bombers host Carlton.

Essendon will be looking for its third win of the season before welcoming back at least nine senior players and potentially a top draft pick to work alongside a core of young players with valuable game time under their belt and some seasoned stars who have benefitted from extra responsibility.

“There is certainly going to be some issues when the guys come back and it’s a long year and they’ve been out for a year and their mental state throughout the whole year is gong to be hard for them I think,” Kelly told SEN.

“To keep ‘up’ for a whole year when you’ve been playing for a long time is hard enough, let alone when you’ve had a year off.

“There is going to be some challenges but certainly I think they should be pushing into the top six or eight.”

As for his own future, Kelly is uncertain and will await a post-season discussion with Coach John Worsfold before making a firm decision. 

"It's a lot more attractive than it has been previously, I guess, earlier in the year but at this stage I still don't know,” he said.

"I still have haven't had a proper sit down with Woosha about it.

“We’ve had a few chats about it briefly throughout the year but at this stage we'll get through this week and we'll sit down and have a coffee next week and see where we are at." 

Kelly was one of ten players signed since January.

Those recruits will be recognised throughout Saturday’s game against the Blues.

Kelly said the ten had former their own bond with each other and the freedom they'd played with this season had rubbed off on the rest of the playing group.

“Even though it has been really different in terms of a win/loss point of view, from a personal level I’ve really enjoyed just playing footy and being back out there,” Kelly said. 

“I’ve really enjoyed being at the Club – being around a group of guys who also really enjoy their footy and enjoy playing together.

“It has been a really good year for me, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”