Shattered Hawthorn coach Daniel Webster hopes the heartbreak of his team's one-point semi-final loss to Port Adelaide will help drive them to greater heights in 2025.
The Hawks coughed up a 22-point final-quarter lead on the way to the 7.8 (50) to 6.13 (49) defeat on Saturday.
A week earlier, Hawthorn's inaccuracy also proved costly in a 6.2 (38) to 4.8 (32) qualifying final loss to Brisbane.
Hawthorn finished the home-and-away season in second spot on the ladder and with a dominant 10-1 record.
But after crashing out of the finals race in straight sets following two home defeats, Webster cut a shattered figure.
The first-year coach hopes the heartbreak will prove to be a driving force for his group.
"Shattered is the feeling. We had 22 more inside 50s, four more scoring shots and we lost another final. Gutted," Webster said.
"We're here to win games and didn't do that, so it's going to hurt for a while this one.
"This needs to drive the group next year, because when things get tough, you need to find that extra gear and you need that motivation.
"That's the lesson we need to learn. To cough up a lead late in the game like that and to get run over late, there's big lessons there."
There were plenty of tears for Hawthorn players after the loss, but it was sheer elation for Port Adelaide after they pulled off the biggest final-quarter comeback in AFLW history.
The reward is a preliminary final date with North Melbourne at Ikon Park next Saturday.
Brisbane will host Adelaide on Saturday night at Brighton Homes Arena in the second preliminary final.
Port Adelaide won just three games across their first two seasons, and they started 2024 with a 1-4 record.
But they have now won eight games on the trot and are just one victory away from securing a dream grand final berth.
"There's so much learning for our crew, and so much belief off the back of some really hard times," Port coach Lauren Arnell said.
"That's the beauty of sport - you go through some pretty stuff tough.
"And once you go through some hard times and learn the lessons you need to, you get onto the good end, and it feels like that now."
Port midfielder Abbey Dowrick was the final-quarter hero against Hawthorn, kicking two clutch goals to help inspire the comeback alongside Gemma Houghton.
Switching Dowrick into attack for the final term proved to be an inspired move.
"Abbey's been probably our best mid all year, certainly in metres gained," Arnell said.
"She wasn't feeling at her best all night (against Hawthorn).
"It wasn't just my idea, it was certainly from the whole group to go, 'let's swing her forward'.
"I'm really pleased for Abbey, It's more confidence for Abs to know that even if you feel like there's not much left in the tank, there always is."
