Essendon captain Zach Merrett knows talk surrounding the club's streak without a finals win will continue through to September, with the star midfielder ready to bring that count "back to zero" after a pre-season of heavy reflection.
Last November the Bombers' winless finals span extended past 7,000 days, compounding frustrations for the club's players, coaches and fans.
After a disappointing conclusion to last season saw Brad Scott's men fall short of a potential finals return, Merrett and his troops delved deep into a period of pondering to get a head start on 2024.
No matter the results they see throughout the home and away season, the Bombers captain knows criticism will only continue until they notch up that first finals win since 2004.
"It's going to be talked about until we win one, isn't it?" Merrett said.
"I wouldn't say it hangs over our head, but we know it's there, it's real. It's not going away.
"To be honest, we're just focused on trying to keep building our program and an ability to play a style of footy that will hold up consistently.
"Hopefully that number will be back to zero sooner rather than later."
Essendon were in reaching distance of a top eight finish at the midway point of their 2023 campaign, with seven defeats in their final ten games draining any hope of a September showing.
A Round 23 thrashing to GWS two weeks out from the season's end was seemingly the final blow, only for eventual premiers Collingwood to pile on a 70-point win and further drive the nail in the hearts of Essendon fans.
In the post-mortem of their first campaign under Scott, the Bombers circled their final fortnight of the 2023 season and heavily reflected on the gap that kept them from being among the game's top contenders.
A narrow gap was all that separated most clubs in the midriff, with Merrett knowing fine margins could be the difference again this year.
"We didn't shy away from those two games and have watched a fair bit of vision of that over the over the pre-season," the Dons skipper added.
"They're two really high-quality teams as we saw deep into September with one winning it and one probably being a point away.
"So we learned a lot out of that. It's certainly spurring and giving a lot of motivation the way we finished last year, not so much the last two weeks but I think over eight weeks we probably pulled away from the things we're trying to instil in the way we want to play. It wasn't up to standard.
"I think players are certainly obviously sick of losing. The competition is so tight, we know a percentage here and there could be the difference between making a final, making the top four or the bottom four.
"We realized that late last year. We just got over two bottom teams and we really struggled to get those four points, and then we got blown away by some top teams.
"That little gap feels massive at times... We've got capability in the room, but that ability to do it consistently is something we need to keep working on. Winning two or three more of those games all of a sudden slingshots you up pretty quickly. You lose them then you're sitting in that middle pack.
"I hope fans can come and watch and know what they're going to get, that's ultimately what I want to be a part of."
The Bombers turned to the off-season to aid their journey back toward the top, bringing in free agency trio Ben McKay, Todd Goldstein and Jade Gresham alongside Port Adelaide youngster Xavier Duursma.
While the new quartet of Bombers are likely to slot into a Round 1 role this year, top draft selection Nate Caddy has garnered most of the talk at Tullamarine among the new contingent of Dons.
The Pick 10 selection from last November's National Draft, Caddy has quickly excited his skipper and new teammates in a short window since joining the club.
"He's done some amazing things. A super, super talent," Merrett said of the Northern Knights product.
"If he went Pick 10 then the top nine must be some super players as well, because he's got a super amount of talent. We've seen a few of those highlights already.
"Obviously being a key position player we know how long that can take at times (to develop). We want him to be impatient, but also smart with with his program and his body.
"So if it's Round 1 or not, I'm not too sure, but we've certainly enjoyed some of the things he's brought already."
Essendon are expected to announce their 2024 leadership group soon, with Merrett all but locked in to lead the red and black for a second successive season.
