Forwards Coach Jed Adcock admits Saturday’s defeat was not the note Brisbane wanted to end their season on, but it doesn’t take the shine away from the side’s improvement throughout the year.

 “It was a disappointing way to end, especially after a promising second half of the year,” Adcock said.

“We’ve spoken about how we don’t want that one game to define what we’ve been able to do and accomplish over the year.”

The Lions boast the youngest list in the competition. So for Adcock, the development of young forwards was pleasing to see.

Eric Hipwood, only 19 years of age in just his second season, booted 30 goals this year and will only be stronger for the Senior experience.

“I think we’ve been able to grow in a lot of ways. We’re still one of the youngest forward lines in the competition. So there’s still going to be a lot of development and growth over the next few years,” Adcock said. 

“We’ve been able to change the way we played a little bit. In the back half of the year we could take a few more marks inside 50 which was handy.”

Josh Walker was one who greatly helped this statistic. The swingman was sent back to the NEAFL earlier in the year to improve his game. In his return to AFL, Walker led from the front for the Lions in contested marks.

It was rewarding for Adcock to watch Walker perform to his potential on field.

“That’s something we knew he could always bring,” Adcock said.

“He was a really good sounding block for Hipwood and [Michael] Close when he was back in the team, towards the back half of the year.  An older, he’s only 23, but an older, bigger body can help support those guys around him.”

Adcock believes the side will only further improve next season and is excited to see what 2018 will bring.

Adcock responded to two fan questions on the final Coaches Wrap of the year.

The first question asked Adcock about the important coaching skills he has learnt throughout the season.

 “I think as a coach it’s really important that you still probably give as much time of yourself to the players," Adcock said.   

As coaches you can get stuck in front of the computer and worrying too much about stats and having to find vision. But really coaching is about relationships.”

The second fan question asked Adcock how he believed the game was likely to evolve next year. 

 “I think it will continue to get faster. The kids coming in now are fitter, stronger, faster. I can’t see that changing a great deal.”