Brisbane will have to defy the odds in their run to premiership success after closing the 2024 home & away season in fifth place, squandering the crucial double chance.
The season has ended on a relative high, taking care of Essendon at home, albeit while wasting multiple chances to win convincingly, as conceded by coach Chris Fagan.
"We were a long way in front... the game shouldn't even be as close as it was," the Brisbane coach declared.
"This is what we've done for the last three weeks and I'm just hopeful that we've got it out of our system and that we won't see it again for the rest of the year.
"It has cost us the opportunity to finish top four, but at the same time, we've finished fifth, we've got a home final, and when you consider where we were at the half-way mark of the season, I think it's been a great effort.
"We're in great form, so we should go in with optimism. But the job we've got to do now is much harder than it would've been."
The squad were dealt a fair share of scrutiny following last week's MCG thriller against Collingwood, when some perceived individual selfishness seemingly cost them the chance to secure a pivotal scalp.
Attempts to reverse the narrative may have polluted their performance this week however, with Fagan questioned on whether an over-correction was at play.
"Yep," he admitted.
"To a degree, I don't mind that. That just shows there listening and they didn't like what they did last week.
"But to be fair... we haven't been like that for ages. Every now and then you just have one of those games."
The pre-finals bye will be welcomed by Fagan and his men, Brisbane keen to welcome back to important defensive cogs from injury for week one of September action, Jack Payne (foot) and Brandon Starcevich (hamstring).
"I think he'll (Payne) be able to play in the reserves next week... so he'll be available for selection for the first final," the Brisbane coach revealed.
"As will Starcevich, his hammy's not a very serious one but enough to keep him out tonight.
"He was running on Tuesday I reckon, so he'll be fine."
Brisbane could still face anyone of Carlton, the Western Bulldogs, Fremantle or Hawthorn pending the final results on the last Sunday of the home and away season, with all three matches set to shape the final eight.