Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch believes his run-in with rookie Zac O'Brien will make him a better AFL mentor.
Leppitsch and the player were forced to apologise this week after a physical confrontation at halftime of a reserves game on the weekend.
An apologetic Leppitsch said he has moved on from the controversy and learned from the experience.
"I think so, I hope so. It will (make me a better coach), let's be honest," he said on Thursday.
"Everyone's human, everyone makes errors along the way and hopefully it's made all of us better for it."
Leppitsch admitted the heightened scrutiny of him and the winless Lions this week have made it one of the toughest periods of his career.
"I've been in this game 22 years though. I've seen this cycle that many times," he said.
"I've been at this club in '98 when we finished on the bottom and rose three years later.
"It does turn quickly.
"These times happen in footy clubs.
"We know it turns and we're all confident.
"Everyone at the top has been around a long period of time and understands that as well.
"We're not hitting the panic button."
Brisbane faces Carlton this weekend - on paper, one of their most winnable games of the season.
Leppitsch said he could see a "different steel" in his players on the back of their Q-Clash drubbing at the hands of Gold Coast - but he's not getting his hopes up.
"Last week I was thinking this is the week, the week before I was thinking this is the week and I'm thinking the same thing again," he said.
"I've seen some good signs, but I guess we'll find out this week."
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