Brisbane coach Chris Fagan is confident the Lions' MCG "hoodoo" won't be on his players' minds if the Queensland side is required to play at the home of football again in 2023.
Friday's one-point defeat to Melbourne was Brisbane's last scheduled game at the venue for 2023, with any further trip to Brunton Avenue to come during September in a finals game.
The heartbreaking loss was the Lions' 21st defeat in their past 24 matches at the MCG, their most recent victory coming against the Demons last year in a semi-final.
The Lions have gone 0-2 at the stadium this season, suffering a shock upset loss to Hawthorn in Round 13 before seeing their 28-point lead over Melbourne removed on Friday night to further add to their MCG woes.
With Brisbane only returning to Melbourne once in their final six games - a Round 23 clash with Collingwood at Marvel Stadium - the Lions will need to replicate their heroics of last year should they find themselves back at Yarra Park in the coming months.
Speaking after the desolating one-point defeat to the Demons, Fagan stressed the club's MCG record won't influence their September plans.
"The hoodoo lives on, unfortunately," the Brisbane coach said.
"It wasn't that far from not living on, but it does. We just have to take that feedback and try to do a better job the next time that we play here.
"I'm not a great believer that what happens tonight, if we're good enough to get to finals and we have to play here again, that that's going to be on our mind. We can deal with that.
"We were close tonight, about as close as you can get. Just didn't quite get there."
Brisbane forward third tandem was at its best through key points of the Melbourne defeat, while Fagan's rearguard was seemingly impenetrable through the middle two terms after conceding the opening 25 points of the game.
The midfield battle swayed toward both clubs during similar trends of the game, with a late run from the Demons seeing them clinch a famous win thanks to a performance bookended by a flourishing forward line.
The other end of the field gave Fagan some pride from the result, with star forward Joe Daniher enjoying one of his best performances of the season on his way to booting two goals from 24 possessions.
The Lions spearhead combined with veteran recruit Jack Gunston, who had three goals of his own, to steer their Brisbane to a healthy lead prior to Melbourne's late surge.
Gunston was again a key part of Brisbane's chances, with the former Hawk backing up his six-goal outing from last week to stave off any concerns around his fitness and form following a mid-year break.
"(Daniher) was good both up forward and in the ruck," Fagan said.
"Played with a lot of effort, so he can hold his head up high.
"... There was always that question mark on Jack. We played West Coast last week, so that was viewed as a relatively easier occasion to kick six goals, I'm not sure that it ever is, but I think it was suggested that way.
"To come into a tough game tonight, kick three (goals) and contribute like he did, that will help him continue to build his confidence."
Brisbane's chances of retaining their top three spots and potentially finishing higher will be buoyed by the likely return of star midfielder Josh Dunkley, who is expected to make a comeback from a calf issue that has kept him out of action for the club's past two matches.
The Lions head to Kardinia Park next week to face Geelongย before ending their home and away campaign with matches against the Suns, Dockers, Crows, Magpies and Saints.
