GWS players continue to reflect on and review their poor end to the 2024 campaign and an off-season scandal that led to six players being suspended for the start of next year.
The Giants bowed out of the finals race in straight sets despite holding strong leads in their affairs against Sydney and Brisbane, with the latter knocking Adam Kingsley's side out of the hunt before going on to claim the flag.
The "really poorly" finish for the AFL's youngest club followed their 2023 finals finish that ended with a one-point loss to eventual premiers Collingwood, with their most recent September series compounding the heartbreak felt amongst the playing group.
The Giants are set to formally review the loss to the Lions this week, with the club motivated to take the next step in their journey in pursuit of a maiden AFL premiership.
"The season ended really poorly from our point of view," GWS star Tom Green said on Monday.
"On the field, we just didn't execute in those finals when we wanted to. We've got a lot of work to do over this pre-season and next season to go where we want to go.
"There will be stuff we can take out in terms of getting those leads, but overall, there's a whole lot of work for us to do to go that next step and where we're good enough to go.
"Over the past couple of years, we've just fallen short, and it shows we're probably not good enough.
"I feel like we're already a really motivated group anyway, but falling short like that over the last couple of years... it is certainly motivating."
The Giants' plans for the 2025 season have already hit a hurdle as Jake Riccardi, Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, and Harvey Thomas prepare for two-game suspensions to start the year, while Josh Fahey will be out for four matches due to the club's controversial end-of-season function.
The inclusion of concerning costumes and skits sparked an investigation by the AFL Integrity Unit, which handed down suspensions and $5,000 fines to seven other players, including Green.
An honest Green said he "failed" to uphold club values as a leader, noting the players "have to get a lot better".
"(It was) also not good enough," Green said of the September incident.
"There's guys going into next season who are going to miss games. It was a real error of judgment on all of our behalves. It's been a real learning curve.
"Both on and off the field, it's been an off-season where we've had to learn a lot and have to get a lot better.
"As a leader, I'm meant to be setting the example and being a role model. In that moment, I failed to do so. As a collective, we've got to get a lot better."
The Giants will start their 2025 campaign with a home match against Collingwood on Sunday, Match 9, before making the trip south to the MCG to face Melbourne in Round 1.