Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron is desperate to lead his club to a maiden finals appearance next year.
The dust had barely settled on the GIANTS’ roller-coaster year after Sunday's loss to Melbourne in their final game for 2015, when Cameron set down the challenge to his players for next season.
Cameron said the GIANTS simply had to make the top eight next year after finishing 2015 in 11th place.
"Yes, absolutely [finals is on the agenda]," Cameron said.
"We are clearly not good enough to make it this year but I've said on the record - over the next two years we've got to be playing in the finals. Well this year is gone, and next year is one of those two years, so we have to make sure that we bring a really competitive pre-season to the fore and into the season proper next year."
This was the GIANTS’ best season since they joined the competition three years ago, with the expansion team notching 11 wins - five more than last season.
But it was also a season of missed opportunities.
After the first 10 rounds, the GIANTS were sitting fifth on the ladder with a 7-3 record, having knocked off reigning premiers Hawthorn.
But key injuries to ruckman Shane Mumford and co-captain Phil Davis cruelled their season, with the side winning just four of their last 12 games.
Cameron said he was proud of the team's improvement this season but said it was incumbent on them to continue to build on that next year.
"From six [wins] to 11 - that's not a fluke," Cameron said.
"We're really proud that we've improved. But you can't just rest on that.
"To get back to 11 wins next year is a big challenge. We've got to go ahead and get to 13, and there are no guarantees in this game.
"Just because we've improved and we've gone from six to 11 doesn't mean there are guarantees. We're at an interesting time right now because if you do the hard work, it can take you to a place where you deserve to be."
GWS will assess its list in the coming weeks but Cameron said it was unlikely the GIANTS would be an active player in October's exchange period.
Over the past two years the club has actively traded picks for experienced players such as Mumford, and Ryan Griffen, but Cameron said GWS' list wasn't in "urgent" need of more mature players.