Free mindset driving Bombers

NO expectations. No limits.

It’s the mantra that is driving Essendon to what would be a stunning finals appearance this season.

Defender turned forward Cale Hooker, who missed 2016 as one of the 12 drug-banned Bombers, said he wasn’t shocked by this year’s success, insisting there was more to come ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash with the Western Bulldogs.

“We went in with no expectations [this year] but coming back you could see the growth in the guys last year like Zac Merrett, Orazio Fantasia, all these guys,” Hooker, pictured, said. “There’s been guys who we haven’t even expected to play as well as they have. We had no expectations and no limits and that’s still the mindset we’ve got.”

Hooker will play his 150th game on Sunday in a 10-year career that suffered a 12-month derailment because of the 2012 supplements saga.

The 28-year-old has played in two elimination final losses in 2009 and 2014 and the chance at another September to remember is driving him.

“Last year when I was kicking the flat footies around in the mud I had a bit of time for reflection,” Hooker said. “Certainly I appreciate being back out here this year. It’s obviously our goal ... to build as a group and play finals.”

Hooker revealed “hard conversations” were had after the Bombers’ shock Round 15 loss to Brisbane.

“We spoke earlier in the year about how the back half of the year is when we want to be building and be playing our best footy and that’s what we’re working towards,” he said.

“It’s good to be in the hunt. We certainly won’t be resting on our laurels.”