The Lions eventually went down 26-14 but were in it up to their necks at half time, controlling the majority of the run of play and would have been in front at the main break if not for a handful of missed opportunities.

"It was a great first half from us, everything went to plan and there were a few areas we wanted to target with Emus and it really worked but in big games, the second half - and that first 10 minutes of the second half - is critical, and Emus were able to really capitalise and put us under a lot of pressure," Paasi said.

"From there they were able to go through the motions and their experience really helped them there.

"There were a couple of key moments in that first 10 minutes [of the second half] where they turned opportunities into points, and that was probably the difference and from there we were probably playing catch-up football, which puts you under pressure."

He said his side reflected the view of skipper Josh Tremain - who was "gutted to his core" following the loss, but on a whole was proud of his Lions.

"There's a lot of tired and pretty upset guys in there, they put their absolute hearts into it," Paasi said.

"We spoke a lot about where we've come from the last few years.

"We've always been about trying to build the club back brick by brick to a place we believe it should be and today was just another example of that."

Saturday's victors in Emus were "the benchmark", Paasi said, both on and off-field.

"Full credit to Emus, they're a great club and had a very good side which went undefeated this year," he said.

"For us to go up against them today and give it all we've got and just fall short, it was great.

"I couldn't be prouder of that group of men who are in the sheds. We'll look forward to next year and we'll hope we go one better."

Paasi said the new-look Lions, with several Hawks and CYMS boys donning the orange and green in 2020 after Group 10's cancellation, had a strong base to build from after just one win combined across 2018 and 2019.

"Everyone in that room said there's still a job they feel like hasn't been done yet so that's a great thing to hear," the Lions mentor said.

"It'd be great to have this group of guys back next year, because now they're building the experience like Emus have for the last couple of years. This is the start of their journey."

He wasn't sure if all the Group 10 boys wouldn't return, but was hopeful they'd come back to complete the job and follow in the steps of Duncan Young, who plays first grade and Group 10 each weekend.

"All those guys who've come over from league have said how much they've enjoyed the family environment and the club environment we have," Paasi said.

"They love the culture. That decision's definitely up to them and they know what it feels like and it's a special place to be."