BRISBANE Lions coach Leigh Matthews says season 2007 must be considered a statistical failure but still envisages big things in the future from his youthful playing group.

The Lions' season officially ended on Saturday night, with a 42-point loss to Geelong at the Gabba, in which they were plucky but outgunned.

According to Matthews, only a premiership can deliver true footballing satisfaction. But he saw enough from his side in the second half of the season to indicate it is getting closer to legitimately aspiring to that ultimate goal.

"The only way you can get fulfilled out of a footy season is to win a premiership," Matthews said in characteristically blunt fashion.

"Any other finishing position and you are a loser – that's us. If you don't win the premiership, you'd like to finish top half - we haven't done that. You'd like to win half your games – we haven't done that either.

"The one thing we have done is played some really good footy - beating the Eagles in Perth, having the really big win against Collingwood at the MCG, the win against Hawthorn early, drawing with Sydney and getting really close to Port.

"We're nowhere near where we want to be and need to be, but I think we're closer than we were at the beginning of this campaign."

One area Matthews will target for improvement during the summer is the Lions' capacity to spread the scoring load.

Coleman Medallist Jonathan Brown kicked seven of the Lions' 15 goals and was one of only 5 goal-kickers for the home side.

"We had 15 goals tonight and I think we had five goalkickers," Matthews noted.

"We need more people who can contribute to our scoring. We're unbelievably dependant on Jonathan (Brown)."

Matthews gave the thumbs-up to the Cats, who finished minor premiers with 17 wins, as the premiership favourites, although he suspects a fit-and-firing West Coast would pose a substantial threat.

"This ground (the Gabba) at some stages gets really wet and dewy but I thought (Geelong's) cleanness of hands and kicking was really good tonight," Matthew said.

"They are very even all over and the fact they have won 16 of their last 17 games indicates they clearly finished the home and away season as the best team.

"I fancy if Eagles had everyone available they might be the testing material. But they might not do that, so I think Geelong deserves to be the favourite."