Sydney gave North Melbourne a punishing lesson in what it takes to be an AFL grand finalist, but that has left Andrew Swallow confident they will be primed to challenge for the flag next season.
The skipper admitted his side crumbled under the pressure at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, outmuscled by a more polished and experienced Swans outfit.
The 71-point thrashing ended a six-match winning streak for the Kangaroos and the chance to feature in their first big dance since 1999.
"It's disappointing ... but we'll learn from this," Swallow told AAP.
"We'll learn what the level that's required to make it.
"Sydney have obviously been there and done it, and they really showed us what it requires.
"Their pressure really caused us to turn the footy over and they smashed us in that area.
"If we can tweak a couple of little things, be a bit more composed and a bit stronger over the footy, I think we can make that leap next year up into the final game in September."
Swallow said the Kangaroos took a few too many risks in the second half, allowing some "easy goals" as they tried to wrestle their way back into the contest.
"And they capitalised on it," he added.
"We beat them up here earlier in the year (by 43 points), so I think we can match it.
"I just think they've had the experience and some harder bodies."
Despite their inconsistent season and failure to reach the top four, the 27-year-old said there were plenty of positives to take from the year - including the emergence of midfielder Levi Greenwood, as well as schoolboy Kayne Turner and Ben Brown.
"When you miss out on the top four, to get to get where we have, is a good effort," he said.
"Our guys will be greater for the experience."
North coach Brad Scott suggested the message to his charges was "pretty simple".
"You've got to go through these bitter disappointments to improve," Scott said.
"We could almost touch it (the grand final), we were that close to it.
"While it's bitterly disappointing tonight, we've got to make sure that feeling drives us (in 2015)."
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