CARETAKER coach Mark Harvey said the Lions were devastated at missing an opportunity to play finals but he admitted the team left its run towards September too late.
Ryan Lester's tired kick with about five seconds to go fell short and meant the Lions went down to Geelong by just one point.
If the Lions had won, they would have been in the top eight momentarily and waiting on the result of the Port Adelaide-Carlton contest.
Carlton's eventual win meant the Lions would have missed out anyway.
Harvey said the group felt empty and shallow and disappointed after the loss but he commended it for performing with such intensity, given the turmoil that surrounded the club since the unexpected sacking of Michael Voss as coach.
"No-one gave us any hope – not that that matters – I just think you have seen a group of players fight so hard for an opportunity and sit back now and be puzzled about what could have been," Harvey said.
Harvey said deposed coach Voss would have been proud of the effort and gave him credit for developing a team that matched Geelong twice this season.
The Lions' board faces a challenge over its handling of the Voss sacking and the club remains in limbo until a replacement is found.
Harvey has said he will not coach the Lions next year but has not yet made a call on his future. He would soon make a decision about whether he wanted to remain in Brisbane.
"The last few years my family has lived in Perth and I've lived in Brisbane, so I've got to make the decision within the next month or two," Harvey said.
"They've got some endearing qualities a lot of these players. They're still learning and they'll get there in the near future."
Harvey said there were many things going through his head and he was uncertain what the future held for him.
However, he was more definitive when it came to the team.
He said it was a little deficient in the class department and also suffered from the sort of inconsistency common in youthful teams. The side needs key position players but Harvey clearly believes the foundations are in place for a good team.
"It's been a difficult year in many ways for the club," he said.
"The club's doing everything it can to try to get things right. Obviously there are decisions to be made in the next month or two and that's important that gets fast-tracked and solved.
"Then the group can move on [and] have a clear a direction of what is required to become a club that regularly plays in finals."
