GWS need to keep putting themselves in the position to play finals despite continual post-season heartbreak, says coach Adam Kingsley.
The Giants went down to Hawthorn by 19 points in the elimination final at ENGIE Stadium on Saturday afternoon - despite pulling off an incredible fightback.
Kingsley's side trailed by 42 points at the 18 minute mark of the third quarter, but kicked six unanswered goals to be down by only six points at the last change.
GWS managed to get in front by a single point after the first goal from Jesse Hogan in the final term, but the Hawks steadied to ease away for victory.
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It now means the Giants last three finals have ended in narrow defeats, including a one-point loss to eventual premiers Collingwood in the 2023 preliminary final.
They also lost to Sydney after leading by 28 points in the last year's qualifying final, before squandering a 44-point lead versus Brisbane in the semi.
"The message is keep putting yourself in that position," Kingsley said in his post-match press conference.
"Keep putting you in a position where you can fail on the big stage and be incredibly disappointed.
"If you're not there, you'll never feel it.
"We've got to just work our backsides off over the summer again to get back into finals and put ourselves in a position where, who knows?
"We may lose next year and be disappointed again but, that's where we need to get to."
The Giants look likely to have lost gun small forward Darcy Jones to a suspected ACL knee injury.
Jones twisted his knee in a collision with Massimo D'Ambrosio in the second quarter.
"Hopefully, it's not as bad as what we suspected," Kingsley said.
"It was incredibly disappointing to lose him. It impacted our front half danger.
"He was lively, he was up the field running and bouncing. His pressure was really important for us."