Loss will motivate Brisbane

RIGHT now it may be painful to contemplate, but Allen Christensen hopes Brisbane uses the memory of its heartbreaking finals exit to spur it on to greatness in 2020.

And the off-contract forward is keeping his fingers crossed he will be along for the ride.

In a devastated Lions dressing room, Christensen, 28, looked like he was the hardest hit by the three-point semifinal loss to Greater Western Sydney that ended the Lions’ fairytale season.

Christensen thought he had got Brisbane home when he kicked a goal that gave the hosts a three-point lead and brought a fired-up Gabba crowd to their feet with five minutes left.

However, Brent Daniels latched on to a Josh Kelly handball and skipped away two minutes later to boot the match-winner, booking GWS a preliminary final showdown with Collingwood.

While it hurt to have victory snatched away, the possibility of it also being his last game for Brisbane ensured Christensen battled to keep his emotions in check post-match.

“Personally I have a bit of contract stuff to work out. I love the group but I will wait and see,” Christensen said.

The last-gasp loss was a cruel end to a season that promised so much for Brisbane, who remarkably turned around a 15th-placing in 2018 to finish second this year.

But Christensen believed only good could come from it.

“It’s shattering, but hopefully the boys can harness this feeling and come back stronger,” he said.

“We can’t be a team that just rests on its laurels and thinks it is just going to happen next year.

“But I know the boys will come back next pre-season and be better because of this experience.

“And we were one kick away from a preliminary final; it’s not all doom and gloom.”