CHRIS Fagan wants Brisbane to play finals, he just doesn't want to talk about it with 10 rounds remaining.
The Lions coach says making the top eight has been a goal since taking over the job in 2017 but even with his club in position to break a 10-year drought, he won't be discussing the 'F' word with his players.
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Rather, it's about the process, he says.
Following an unexpected pre-bye loss to Carlton, Brisbane has a 7-5 record ahead of Saturday's return to Marvel Stadium to play St Kilda.
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"First and foremost, I'm not talking about our finals' aspirations," Fagan said on Thursday.
"That's not something we've sat down and talked about as a group.
"Sometimes if you focus on the big picture too much, you focus on results, that can lead you to play a bit fearful.
"What we try and do is focus on process because that's fearless.
"You don't think too much about the big picture, you just think about what you have to do each week.
"I spent a lot of time at Hawthorn and we didn't talk about winning finals, we just talked about improving the whole time and if you get better each week then eventually you become a team that wins finals, that's the focus."
Fagan said the loss to the Blues almost two weeks ago stung, particularly after his team led by in excess of six goals before falling apart.
He said the bye came at a good time and felt the players had been refreshed with the break, while also learning some lessons from defeat.
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"I was disappointed halfway through the second quarter, some decisions we made with ball in hand when we had Carlton close to on the ropes, we mucked up some golden opportunities by trying to overuse the ball," he said.
"That's one of the things you need to talk about to your team, we're not the first team that's done that.
"When you've got a team in that position, you've got to keep doing what you always do and don't change.
"It's been a long two weeks waiting to play another game."
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