Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell offered that he would "rather be anywhere but here" when facing the media in the wake of his side's devastating preliminary final loss to Brisbane.
The Hawks fell one match short of the big dance for a second consecutive year, with umpiring controversies a feature of the contest's final stages.
Mitchell appeared livid when facing the media, with numerous emotional statements provided to the gathered scrum.
“If you want to strive for great things, you will open yourself up to all sorts of emotion. The greatest of joy, and the deepest of pain," he began.
“We're in a mourning phase. I think I'm in the “anger” stage…last (stage) is acceptance, and I'm a long way from acceptance right now - I'll sit in anger for a little bit longer, and I think the players will too," he added.
One of the first questions put to the terse coach was regarding the decision that ultimately gave Brisbane the lead in the final minute, when veteran Jarman Impey was pinged for holding the ball in his own defensive 50. Mitchell was asked if it was there, and responded by bringing up other instances of green-clad intervention.
“I haven't re-watched it. Maybe?" he said.
"There were a few (decisions that went against us). It's probably not the one I'm focussed on - there were a couple leading up to it and some key moments in the game. I'm sure the umpires will assess how they performed in that game, in key moments. The Mitch Lewis out of bounds, the Zorko free kick, but, it's not for me to say."
Mitchell was asked if he had spoken to Impey in the wake of the gut-wrenching moment, and took the opportunity to discuss the pride he harbours for his group.
“I've spoken to all the players. I'm sure your narrative, as the media world, will be around that final decision, but, the game goes for a long time," Mitchell said.
“I was really proud of our players. I think every one of us was thinking ‘maybe we're just not quite good enough,' halfway through the third, but I don't think anyone finishes (watching) that game thinking ‘Hawthorn aren't a legitimate team'.
"We weren't good enough today, unfortunately, but I'm really proud of the players, and our belief, and how we went about it as a football team and a football organisation.
“I'll say this a few times - I was really proud of the players, (and) the belief they had in what they were doing and the belief they had in each other. If you looked at how they looked at each other when the game was going well or the game was going badly, they seemed to have a steely resolve about themselves.
"It's not like Brisbane didn't - they're a good side, they've been here before, so that was a game for the ages. I'm sure I'll appreciate it at some point, but right now, I'd rather be anywhere but here.”
When pressed about the conduct of skipper James Sicily and portions of his club's fanbase in the aftermath, Mitchell waxed philosophically.
“The umpires have got a very difficult job,” he said, before recycling his earlier line about those in green reviewing their performance.
“The emotion of sport is why we love it so much. In all sports - but ours in particular - the beauty of the game is the emotion that it makes you feel. And how that expresses itself is really hard (to control).
“I had no idea what I wanted to do. At the end of the game, part of me wanted to break down in tears, part of me wanted to scream with rage, part of me wanted to throw chairs - you don't know how to (act).
“When you're in the stands, you need to continue to be feeling that emotion - because that's why we love it - but how it manifests itself? We shouldn't be throwing things on the field and doing those sorts of things, but the passion from the stands, and the passion of the game is why we love it so much. I hope for the vast majority, it was felt responsibly.”
The Lions were afforded their flowers by the fifth-year head Hawk, too, but ultimately, his restrained anger was the feature of media obligations he clearly fulfilled through gritted teeth.
"They were awesome," Mitchell said.
"I imagine it was a fantastic game to watch - full credit to Brisbane, they played some great footy and we weren't good enough to get it done tonight. As much as it burns and hurts, and there's going to be reasons for all of those types of things."
One reporter asked, “Is this the angriest you've been, Sam, after a game?”
Mitchell's reply was initially short and cutting, before he qualified it.
“Yep,” he said.
“But we need to play better. We shouldn't be putting ourselves in positions where the last decision or the last three decisions mean so much. We need to improve, we'll start doing that soon, but not today."
