Essendon coach James Hird says there is a big 2013 pre-season ahead for his team following their final game of the 2012 season on Saturday night.
Hird said to have a complete performance across an entire season his side must continue to work hard.
""We are confident we are going down a path to last out a season and finals,"" Hird said.
""We never thought this would be an overnight fix and we are right.""
""We won't be backing off.""
Hird said there were some mistakes made over the last season but they were confident they were on the right path.
""We have made some mistakes but we know how hard this game is physically to play, I want to be coaching a group of players who are ready to play 3 or 4 finals.""
""This year we got fourteen rounds, last year eight and hopefully next year we get more.""
The coach praised the game of first gamer Jackson Merrett and pointed out the club's six debutants as a positive out of the season.
