Devastated Giants co-captain Phil Davis says his club will aim to be the next Hawthorn after their premiership dream disintegrated against the Western Bulldogs in Saturday night's preliminary final.
In the aftermath of the six-point loss in a tearful GWS dressing room at Spotless Stadium, Davis tried valiantly to pluck a positive from the heartbreaking loss after his side had led by 14 points early in the last quarter.
The emotion was raw for Davis and his teammates, Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio just two of several Giants who were reduced to tears by the defeat.
But this is exactly what the Hawks suffered in 2011, a preliminary final loss to Collingwood who they'd led late in the last quarter.
They bounced back, making it to the grand final in 2012 before stringing together three-straight premierships as the AFL's modern-day powerhouse.
Geelong also lost a semi-final in 2005 that they'd led until late in the game, a precursor to the Cats' flag success in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
"There's the Hawthorn 2011 prelim and Luke Ball kicks that goal [for Collingwood], wins that game, they went on to play in the next four grand finals," Davis said.
"If we can lock that in now that'd be nice. I remember Geelong 2005, I think they got done by a kick. Some teams get close, there are a lot of teams that get close and they just fall off the map again.
"At the moment mate I'm a bit shell-shocked.
"It's a good game to be a part of [the preliminary final]. It puts hair on your chest and gets you going.
"I hope it's a learning experience, I know I'm hungry, I know the boys are hungry and I know we love playing at this footy club and that's always going to hold us in good stead.
"We'll come back in good shape, day one of pre-season, and ready to go."
Despite the heartache of Saturday's loss, season 2016 was a major success for the Giants in just their fifth season.
It was the club's maiden finals series, and the win over the Swans in week one of the playoffs proved the Giants could match it with the league's elite.
Davis' team is still very much on an upward curve, and its bubbling rivalry with cross-town Sydney is set to explode over the next five seasons with both clubs poised for lengthy stints at the top.
But for now the immediate priority is navigating a busy trade period, in which several of their youngsters are likely to attract interest from other clubs.
Homesick forward Cam McCarthy will likely make his move to Fremantle official, and a deal with the Dockers could be struck in less than two weeks.
Rory Lobb has also reportedly attracted interest from both WA clubs, but the Giants are determined to keep the ruckman who booted three goals in Saturday's loss.
Youngster Caleb Marchbank declared earlier this month he was seeking a move to Carlton, while Jack Steele and Adam Tomlinson are also attracting interest down south.
Veteran Steve Johnson meanwhile will sit down with coach Leon Cameron this week to discuss whether or not he'll play on for another season.
The former Cat missed Saturday's preliminary final through the one-match suspension he incurred for a high bump on Swan Josh Kennedy two weeks ago.
Johnson was sorely missed up forward against the Bulldogs, but it was the Melbourne club's ability to lock the ball into the GWS defensive half that won them the game.
"They spent more time in their forward half, I thought our pressure was as good as theirs and they just won the territory battle," Davis said.
"They got stoppage goals which we don't usually let in. They really just worked us over, I think it was 68 inside 50s to about 50, that's probably where they got us.
"When we got playing the footy we could play, we scored. They were just too good for too long."
