The Demons clinched their first win of the season by six points over the highly fancied Bombers on Saturday night.
Essendon endured a five-game losing streak in the middle of last season, including a defeat to the Demons, but Hocking says his side should be able to avoid a repeat of that stretch.
"We definitely remember last year and how we started well and dropped away a bit," the midfielder said on Monday.
"But the group's definitely grown over pre-season and it's a year on. We're better in that area, and we will cope better."
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Hocking dismissed suggestions the group was tired, and that it couldn't handle Saturday's wet conditions after becoming accustomed to perfect conditions at Etihad Stadium.
Instead, he noted the club's inaccuracy - it kicked six goals and 16 behinds against the Demons and had 64 inside-50 entries - as a major reason for the defeat.
"After the game there was definitely a lot of disappointment in the room and you could feel it," Hocking said.
"We didn't capitalise on our opportunities and it cost us the game."
Essendon forward Leroy Jetta appears to set come under scrutiny for staging from the Match Review Panel for the second time in three weeks.
Hocking said he hadn't seen the incident, but that the club would review the game and speak to Jetta if it sees fit.
