JUSTIN Leppitsch described parts of Saturday night's loss against Port Adelaide as embarrassing and unacceptable, but stuck solid to his belief the Brisbane Lions are on the right track.
Leppitsch said there were signs of improvement after the 94-point drubbing that left his team floundering at 2-16.
He pointed to debutant ruckman Archie Smith – who was quite sensational in his first outing – and a handful of other youngsters that weren't quite up to it against the Power but had shown glimpses during the season.
But even Leppitsch conceded the Lions' biggest loss of the season mirrored so many of their other heavy defeats; a good start, only to be hit with a knockout punch in the second term they couldn't respond to.
It was the fourth loss of 13 goals or more at the Gabba alone in 2016.
Leppitsch says he still has the ultimate belief in himself and his team.
"The path we're on is one that's been around for a long period of time," he said.
"As long as you do the core things well, get some really good high talent in, keep them together, play them, and get a bit of luck, our injury rate the last few years and our ability for our best players to be out there to help our young boys has not been there.
"To have a (Dayne) Beams, (Allen) Christensen, (Tom) Bell out there, guys that have played some footy, to help these kids, would be fantastic.
"I'm hoping and praying the footy gods smile on me next year.
"We've got to have patience, and these days happen unfortunately.
"We wanted to limit the thumpings this season. We probably always knew we'd get three or four, that's just what history tells you with young teams."
Leppitsch said the second quarter, in which Port Adelaide put the game out of reach with seven unanswered goals, was unacceptable.
"We've had a lot of unacceptable efforts this year," he said.
"There's parts of today that were embarrassing, and I think the boys felt that too.
"We got beaten tonight on the inside and the outside, which happened in the Giants game, and that game was also a bit embarrassing.
"They're a very good hard-running team when they're up and going, and we allowed that today.
"It's a full team thing. We're just not playing very well as a team right now.
"We're not looking after each other defensively. We're not quick to react."
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