MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 03: Jake Stringer of the Bombers celebrates a goal with Darcy Parish of the Bombers during the 2021 AFL Round 03 match between the Essendon Bombers and the St Kilda Saints at Marvel Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Having shot to prominence rapidly over the course of a season in which many punters and pundits believed they would be anchored to the ladder's foot, Essendon will return to the finals action after a single season hiatus on Sunday.

Although the occasion has already sparked unbridled joy for many that don the sash in the outer each weekend, the Dons' elimination final opponent could well have drawn mixed emotions for the club's leading goal kicker this season.

After spending the fledgling years of his career ensconced within the four-walls of the Whitten Oval, one would not bemoan Jake Stringer for feeling an internal tear in a week where he readies himself to do battle against a side stacked with many of his premiership teammates from 2016.

But according to the 27-year-old, he was not hung up on his side's dance partner for this weekend.

“To be honest, I’m just really excited for this group,” Stringer told the media via Zoom on Tuesday afternoon.

“I obviously played six years at the Bulldogs, and I had a wonderful time, but all my energy and efforts are going into this playing group.

"That [his time at the Bulldogs] was a long time ago and I'm just worried about this week and purely about this week and I'm looking forward to the challenge that they'll bring Sunday."

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 31: Jake Stringer of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 02 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium on March 31, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Having worn a red, white and blue guernsey on 89 occasions, the Maryborough born Bomber is acutely aware of the strengths and weaknesses of many that currently call the Kennel home.

And after claiming the points over Beveridge's boys earlier this month, Stringer also remained steadfast that despite the fact their best football had deserted them since this Round 21 defeat, the Bulldogs would be desperate to bite back.

“We expect a fierce contest,” he said.

“You’ve got blokes like ‘Bont’ [Marcus Bontempelli] and ‘Libba’ [Tom Liberatore] and [Adam] Treloar … they’ll be chomping at the bit ready to go.”

Irrespective of the fact that plenty had the Essendon's list planting their feet up rather than in studded boots by this stage of the season, the All-Australian nominee claimed that the surprise felt by many about their impending finals campaign was not a view shared by those at Tullamarine.

“We were very confident when we got together at the start of preseason that we were going to be on a journey and that we’ve been on one," Stringer said.

“There’s been lots of ‘ups and downs’ and all we needed was a ticket to the party and we’ve got that, so we’ll see how far we can go.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Jake Stringer and Devon Smith of the Bombers celebrate winning the round one AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Adelaide Crows at Etihad Stadium on March 23, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Stringer also stressed that the form that saw the club finish the Covid shortened 2020 season in 13th spot on the ladder had been amended due to the injection of first-year head coach, Ben Rutten.

“It’s too hard to compare years when you’ve had five or six players leave one year and then you get five or six brought in,” the 156-gamer continued.

“What I can say is this year the belief and drive in the group has gone to another level and that’s obviously led from Ben Rutten.”

The hybrid forward-come-midfielder also paid praise to the man affectionately known as 'Truck' for helping to return his own personal belief after an injury hampered season that also saw him wear truculent barbs about his weight upon return.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 14: Jake Stringer of the Bombers leaves the field injured during the 2019 AFL round 13 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Marvel Stadium on June 14, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

Having entered the 2021 season with the league's third least experienced list in terms of games played - 57.4 on average - and the fifth youngest with a mean age of 23.9, there is a view held by some that this latest iteration of the 'Baby Bombers' may have ascended too early.

However, Stringer was quick to suggest that the nature of the club's annual schedule would hold those without September experience in good stead ahead of the clash in Launceston.

“We play in enough big games throughout the year to get ourselves ready for finals,” he retorted.

“Anzac Day, Dreamtime, they’re all like finals games, so I think the boys are well equipped and ready to go.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 26: Jake Stringer of the Bombers celebrates a goal during the round 10 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Essendon Bombers at Spotless Stadium on May 26, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

With parallels now being drawn between his current crop of teammates and those that climbed to football's summit five-years ago, the premiership Pup was not willing to draw too tight of a comparison.

But with a prize yet to be handed out this season, Stringer was of the view that the Bombers could fly up and pilfer the club's 17th flag.

“There’s been no story written so far for the rest of the finals, so hopefully we can write one, which would be nice.”

Stringer and Essendon will face off against the Western Bulldogs in their 'do or die' battle at UTAS Stadium at 3:20pm AEST on Sunday afternoon.