Geelong coach Chris Scott admitted his players knew they were effectively playing for nothing as Brisbane made a late charge before coming up a single point short in an AFL thriller at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.
With an understrength Fremantle lineup being belted by St Kilda earlier in the day, the Cats knew for much of the second half that they were guaranteed to finish second and host the Dockers in week one of the finals.
Scott knew it. And the players knew it.
"It's a tough situation," said Scott.
"I've made a commitment to our players I'll never lie to them, so we couldn't make the game - particularly in the second half - something it wasn't, given the situation in the St Kilda- Fremantle game.
"And it kept flashing up on the scoreboard, so all our players knew as well.
"The fact that Brisbane had a lot to play for and we didn't really have anything, except carrying our form through this week, had an impact on the game."
That lack of motivation was in stark contrast to what confronted the Lions, who needed to become only the second team in almost six years to beat the Cats at Simonds Stadium if they were to remain in contention for eighth spot and a place in the finals.
They could hardly have come closer, retrieving a 26-point deficit late in the final term and kicking three of the last four goals of the match.
Ryan Lester had the chance to be the Brisbane hero in the final second, but his mistimed snap for goal from close range was rushed through for a point, allowing Geelong to triumph 15.22 (112) to 17.9 (111).
It was the second grandstand finish between these two sides this year, following the round-13 clash at the Gabba when Brisbane came back from 53 points down to win by five with a goal from Ash McGrath after the siren.
McGrath was again a key figure on Saturday, kicking six goals for the brave Lions, who were also well served by Mitch Golby and Tom Rockliff.
Stand-in Brisbane coach Mark Harvey - who took over the reins after the club parted ways with Michael Voss several weeks ago - was feeling a range of emotions after the game.
"Empty, shallow, disappointed - the reality is that we probably left our run too late anyhow but they are to be commended for the way they conducted themselves today for what has been a difficult couple of weeks for the playing group," said Harvey.
"They found a way to console each other and put it on each other to perform at a maximum level against either the best team or the second-best team in the competition at the moment.
"No-one gave us any hope - not that that matters.
"I just think you have seen a group of players fight so hard for an opportunity and sit back now and be puzzled about what could have been."
Jimmy Bartel, Steve Johnson and Mathew Stokes were among Geelong's best players in an even performance that included 12 different goalkickers.
Key forward Tom Hawkins was again hampered by his long-term back problem, finishing the match with just seven possessions, two marks and one goal.
But Scott remained confident the 2012 club best and fairest winner could still have a major impact in the finals series.
