FINALS football is still mathematically possible for the Brisbane Lions, but coach Leigh Matthews is far more focused on basic improvement than September dreaming.

Speaking after the Lions made it back-to-back wins with a 44-point triumph against the Demons – coming off a shock victory over West Coast – Matthews gave a characteristically coy answer when asked about his side’s chances of contesting this year’s finals.

But he made it clear his Lions were offering encouragement for 2008 and beyond.

”If we win enough games,” Matthews smiled in reply to a question about whether the Lions could give September a shake.

”We’ve had a few good weeks against very good opposition. But we know the mathematical equation pretty much means winning every week.

”It’s far enough into the distance that it’s not really an issue. Our issue is about trying to improve and being a better team than we were 12 months ago.

”I’m certainly confident with the team we’ve got playing at the moment that whatever it can do now, it will be better in a year’s time.”

Matthews was pleased with the way his players kicked on from the upset of the Eagles, when the temptation might have been to take their collective feet off the pedal.

”It was always going to be pretty interesting to see what happened after we had the big emotional game the week before and the big win in unexpected circumstances,” Matthews said.

”Would it lead to encouragement? How would we come up?

”It was pleasing the way we jumped into the first quarter. The margin was big enough at quarter-time that no matter how well Melbourne played, it was going to be difficult for them to catch up.”