A STRAIGHT-sets finals exit will churn in the Brisbane Lions' guts during a long, torturous summer.

Nothing except time will help Chris Fagan's brave cubs overcome the devastation of their classic three-point loss to Greater Western Sydney.  

Daniel Rich contemplates defeat after Saturday night's semi-final. 

But they shouldn't be haunted by any finals mental demons when they inevitably return to September. 

This is a young team on the rise – far quicker than anyone expected – and they were far from overawed on the big stage. 

GIANTS' GREAT ESCAPE Full match coverage and stats

This will hurt, but it is worth remembering that since Adelaide's fairytale in 1997, every premiership side – excluding repeat flag-winners – has had to endure September heartbreak one or two years previously before scaling the mountain.  

The fearsome Brisbane three-peat team fell short at the preliminary final and semi-final stage in consecutive years before breaking through in 2001.  

Nobody is suggesting this group will match those feats, but father figure Fagan is setting them up for sustained success.

Brisbane will take huge belief from climbing from 15th to second on the ladder, and the growth left in the League's second-youngest squad is obvious.

'A BRILLIANT SEASON' Fagan all smiles despite straight-sets exit

Key pillars Eric Hipwood (three goals), who was much improved against the Giants after a disappearing act in the qualifying final, and Virgin Australian AFL All Australian defender Harris Andrews will have learnt valuable lessons against battle-hardened veterans.

Eric Hipwood was a three-goal threat against the Giants. 

Emerging midfield stars Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry have only played 63 and 57 games, respectively, and are already going toe-to-toe with the competition's elite.

Soon enough, it will be them dealing with the type of tag Brownlow Medal fancy Lachie Neale – the recruit of the year and still only 26 years old – had to deal with against ex-Dockers teammate Matt de Boer.

Jarrod Berry was outstanding as the Lions fought back from a slow start. 

Inspirational small forward Charlie Cameron, 25, will be lighting up the Gabba for years to come and will only get better as those around him mature.  

His heroics playing through an ugly twisted elbow suffered in the opening minute would have been the stuff of legend had the Lions triumphed.

Meanwhile, former No.1 draft pick Cam Rayner is still a teenager and already has 46 games under his belt.  

Every player the Lions want to keep, they will, and while all-time great Luke Hodge has bowed out, he will leave a lasting legacy on this group. 

Brisbane could look to add more foot speed across half-back this off-season, and is now an attractive destination, so the Lions can afford to be targeted and aggressive during the Trade Period.

Long gone are the dark days of player discontent and the infamous 'go-home five'. 

The 'Gabbatoir' is back, fans are in full voice and the atmosphere during two Queensland finals this season has been unforgettable.

A record Gabba footy crowd packed in for the qualifying final against Richmond. 

Undoubtedly, inexperience in the furnace cost the Lions.  

They had 14 players tasting their first final against rampaging Richmond last week and matched the powerhouse Tigers in almost every facet but were killed by the goalkicking yips.  

It was Brisbane's first final in a decade, and it showed.

On Saturday night, Brisbane overstepped the mark early trying to match fire with fire.

Jeremy Finlayson was gifted the game's second goal for high contact in a scuffle after Toby Greene's opener.

Shortly after, recalled Nick Robertson decked Lachie Whitfield, earning Jacob Hopper a 50m and leading to GWS' third.  

The Lions settled admirably, but will rue allowing a 25-0 start and fluffing opportunities in the second half. 

Late in the piece, they played into the hands of Greater Western Sydney's intercept marking defenders by bombing forward to Phil Davis and Nick Haynes' waiting arms.

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The in-your-face Giants appear to have been whipped into a frenzy by coach Leon Cameron in their two do-or-die encounters, and facing that heat will teach Brisbane plenty. 

The Giants are a team ready to go to any lengths not to waste their chance after falling short twice in preliminary finals and a semi in the past three seasons.  

A team that always had talent has a ruthlessness this September which makes them a formidable opponent.

In time, we could be saying the same thing about Brisbane.