Even an admirable 10th-placed finish with four wins in their debut season - clearly the best of the AFLW's four new teams - was not enough to satisfy.
Rather than rest on their laurels after an encouraging first campaign, Essendon went to work over last summer to discover ways to bridge the gap with the best.
Twelve months on, the Bombers find themselves in an elimination final showdown against Geelong on Sunday after going 6-4.
"We reflected a fair bit after last season, we were disappointed probably not to have done better, even though it was just our first season," Essendon leadership group member Georgia Nanscawen told AAP.
"We didn't want to use that as an excuse.
"The players and the staff have put in fair bit of hard work, a lot of reviews of last season, and the focus has been on developing both individually and as a team.
"We've been able to make some really good steps in playing some good football.
"We play football to play in finals, and to win finals, so to be there and have a shot at it this year is really exciting for the club."
The Bombers' women are striving to become the club's first top-flight team to win a final in more than 7000 days, with Essendon's AFL side not having tasted post-season success since September 2004.
A key for Essendon's instant impact in the AFLW has been the solid foundation set at the lower level, with Nanscawen leading the Bombers to the 2022 VFLW premiership.
The signing of versatile forward Jacqui Vogt (centre) from St Kilda has paid off for the Bombers.
Shrewd recruitment has paid off, such as the signing of Jacqui Vogt last year after an impressive stint with St Kilda.
The versatile forward said Essendon had given their AFLW program the best possible chance of success.
"The people that work behind the scenes have done a really great job in getting the players that they have across," Vogt told AAP.
"A lot of hard work goes into the recruiting of players.
"All the hard work from all the people behind the scenes never goes unnoticed.
"We've got a really exciting list, not only for this season but what we could produce in the future is really exciting as well."
Geelong are eyeing a first post-season win in their AFLW history in Sunday's clash, after falling just short against North Melbourne in an elimination final last year.
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