ESSENDON will target a return to the top four by 2018 as new coach John Worsfold starts his quest to build a list capable of winning a premiership.



Weeks into his role as the Bombers' senior coach, Worsfold is buoyant about the talent at his disposal, despite the club's lowly 15th-placed finish this season.



The 2006 West Coast premiership coach believes the club's lofty aim is possible, but said the Bombers need to plan to become a premiership threat beyond only making the top four.



"Absolutely I think it is achievable, but the challenge is that you want to win a premiership. You don't just want to make the top four and say, 'We've ticked that box'," Worsfold said on Thursday.



"And sometimes the decisions you make might mean you miss out on the top four for another year because you're playing the younger kids to get them ready to become premiership players.

"It's a very fine line."



The Bombers last won a final in 2004 under coach Kevin Sheedy, having lost their past three elimination finals. Matthew Knights, James Hird and Mark Thompson have all coached the club on a permanent basis since then. They have not finished in the top four since 2001.



Worsfold said the Bombers could "load up" on free agents to target a top-four finish in the next three seasons, but that they needed to take the broader view to get back into the premiership mix.



"Top four would be wonderful, but a premiership is the ultimate aim. I would challenge – and I always have challenged – clubs to be clear on what you really want to achieve," he said.



"Is it a top-four [finish] for three or four years in a row where you come fourth and we're all happy?



"Or are we working really hard to say it might take two more years of being out of the top four but then all of a sudden you burst into the top two and can play in the Grand Final."



Essendon unveiled its strategic vision to supporters at its members forum at Etihad Stadium on Thursday night, with the club aiming to be in the top four in the competition for on-field performance, membership numbers, net football-related revenue and fan engagement.



Worsfold said his first few weeks at the club have given him opportunities to see what is working at the Bombers and exposed issues that can be addressed and improved.



"The challenge is to get the mentality and the culture right around being an elite sporting organisation," he said.



"But also challenging the whole footy department that we're a part of a great club and how we can help the club achieve its vision with the way we perform off the field as a playing group and a footy department. That's a big focus for me."



Worsfold said he is confident the Bombers will be able to improve their scoring power next year, with ruck pair Matthew Leuenberger and Tom Bellchambers likely to spend more time in attack.



He expects to use best and fairest winner Cale Hooker in defence, after the All Australian backman was pushed forward for the second half of 2015 when the Bombers were in need of goals.



Worsfold, who had a 54 per cent winning record in 264 games as coach of the Eagles between 2002-13, starts his time at Essendon with fresh talent about to land at the club.



Essendon will take its best hand of picks in nearly 20 years to November's NAB AFL Draft, including four selections in the top 25 – No.4, 5, 24 and 25.



Worsfold said the club will pick the best players with its top-10 selections, regardless of their positions.



"Those two picks [will be] best talent. And then 24 and 25 gives us great opportunity to look at needs. We'll wait and see what we take with those first two picks," Worsfold said.



"We'll have a pretty good idea going into the draft, and then we'll be planning out who's likely to be available at 24 and 25 and who we may take then. We won't specifically go in order of talent for 24 and 25."