Giants skipper Toby Greene has vowed his side will only return stronger from their devastating one-point preliminary final loss to Collingwood at the MCG.
It's their third preliminary finals loss in four appearances.
The Giants drew within a point when Jesse Hogan slotted a set shot with six minutes on the clock, but through congestion tactics and single-minded determination from the Magpies, that was the final scoring shot and they snared a 8. 10. (58) to 8. 9. (57) victory.
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Greene himself had a chance to put the Giants in front, but his snap was marked on the goal line by Steele Sidebottom.
Cameras captured the moment Greene burst into tears in the Giants sheds after the game.
"It's hard to reflect on the season when you get that close," he said on Channel Seven's coverage.
"Yeah, that one hurts. That one really hurts."
In a clearly sombre Giants change room, Greene indicated his side would come together in the coming days to process what had still been an "awesome" season.
"Tough change room at the moment. We'll come together and come back, we'll come back stronger," he said.
"You put yourself out there, get that close, that's what happens.
"It was an awesome year, but once you get this close, you want to go on and win it. We felt like we were good enough to.
"Hats off to Collingwood – they were tough tonight. Flip of a coin really in the end.
"Yeah, it just hurts."
Collingwood will face the winner of the Lions and Blues, who will clash at the Gabba on Saturday evening.
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