If going out in straight sets in the finals for a second time in three seasons was a bad outcome…

Then a closer look at the qualifying final shows the Lions were within three goals of the rampant Melbourne late in the final quarter.

Given the Dees then respectively won preliminary and Grand Finals by 83 and 74 points, there’s something to take out of that.

It will leave Chris Fagan’s side wondering ‘what could’ve been’ had the one-point heartbreak against the Bulldogs gone the other way. 

But the Lions should take confidence into the 2022 season.

Enduring 52 days on the road and with key players spending extended periods of time on the sidelines, Brisbane discovered a resilience that will harden them come the new season.

The injury list saw the likes of Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, Darcy Gardiner, Lachie Neale, Dan McStay, Marcus Adams, Jarrod Berry and Nakia Cockatoo miss large chunks of the year.

Considering all eight players were in Chris Fagan’s best 22 at different stages through the year, it poses a scary proposition for opposition clubs come 2022 if all can return fit.

Minus Eric Hipwood, who will sit out the majority of the next year, all remaining players will all be raring to go in pre-season.

Dynamic defender, Noah Answerth will also be the equivalent of a new recruit as he eyes off a return to full training when players return in December. 

Especially when you consider the Lions dominant run between Rounds 5 to 16 earlier in the year.

In the span of 11 weeks, Brisbane went 10 – 1 with an average winning margin of 43 points, which included a 64-point thumping of finalists GWS and a 49-point win over eventual preliminary finalists, Port Adelaide.

Immediately after their one-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, head coach Chris Fagan mentioned that the heartbreak will better the team long term.

“We’re flat, there’s no doubt… but it’ll harden us over time.”

In true Fagan form, at the 2021 Merrett-Murray Medal he was also quick to address and thank the greater football department for their dedication and sacrifice throughout an interrupted season.

“This year’s been really different, it’s required a lot of resilience and effort on the part of everyone in the football department.” Fagan said.

“For starters, after playing finals for two years, we became the hunted. We had a poor start, we were 1-3 at 85% and 16^th on the ladder after four rounds.”

“We had a lot of boys miss large chunks of footy, we haven’t had that sort of adversity before. But the upside is, our young guys got a game and we’ve been able to develop depth.

“That’s going to help us in years to come.”