Watching Collingwood's last battle with Brisbane brings only excitement for coach Craig McRae, despite the Magpies suffering their first loss to the Lions at the MCG in more than 10 years.
The teams return to the famous ground on Saturday night for their preliminary final with McRae saying he'd taken time this week to view the round-21 match again.
Young Brisbane key forward Logan Morris booted a career-high six goals while Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley dominated through the midfield.
McRae says what he took out of the match is how much better shape the Magpies are in since that 27-point defeat.
He noted that match was premiership midfielder Jordan de Goey's first back since round eight after he was sidelined by Achilles inflammation and a concussion following a training collision.
"I watched it back yesterday and I got real excited for what we've got now," McRae told reporters on Thursday.
"We've had some really good lessons around that time, around what our energy levels were as a group.
"We had a lot of players out of that game that make us better - Beau McCreery in particular and it was Jordy's first game back and you see what he's been able to do in the last weeks."
McRae, who steered his side to the 2023 premiership, described McCreery as a "weapon", with the 24-year-old continuing to impress.
"We saw him at times against the Crows, what he can do in there, it's a different option for the rest of the group," he said.
"His lateral movement, his pressure, his energy, his ability to get the ball back or win it for us - he's a bit of a weapon for us."
Beating minor premiers Adelaide in a qualifying final ensured safe passage through to the prelim and, importantly for the Magpies, meant an additional week off.
McRae said the break meant his players - the oldest average list in the AFL - were primed for another title tilt.
"Our best historically has been when we've got a bit of a break," he said.
"We saw that this year, we had three games in 12 days and we looked really tight against the Hawks.
"We've been pretty deliberate from then making sure our list is really sharpening the sword towards this game in the coming weeks, if we're lucky enough to make it that far.
"I'd like to think we're coming in at the right time."
