Brisbane Lions co-captain Jonathan Brown admits his side should be preparing for an assault on the AFL finals this week rather than planning September holidays.

The Lions' slim finals chances were ended with a six-point loss to Carlton at the Gabba on Saturday night, their fourth loss in five weeks.

A recurring theme for the Lions has become what could've been.

A blistering nine goal effort in the third quarter put Brisbane up by 32 at the last break against the Blues, only to be overrun as the visitors dominated possession.

For Lions fans it added salt to the wounds caused by a three point loss to Richmond in round 17, and an eight point loss to North Melbourne the following week.

"There's no doubt when you look back at the season there's disappointment, because we could have been a lot higher than what we are," Brown said after the loss to Carlton.

"Personally I think it's disappointing. When you're in front of Richmond by close to five goals, and when you're in front (last night) by six goals at three quarter time, they're the two (games) you've definitely got to chalk in (as wins)."

With just 56 possessions to Carlton's 115 in the final term, Lions coach Leigh Matthews said there wasn't much his players could do to stem the tide of goals coming from the Blues.

Brown said the entire team had to take responsibility for the remarkable turnaround.

"It's got to go down as a team effort, in the good times and the bad times," he said.

"We all contributed to our downfall, as we all contributed to probably our best quarter of the season in the third quarter."

The Lions now face a similarly out-of-fortunes Sydney outfit in the final match of the year, and Brown said he was determined to end the season on a positive note.

"You obviously want to finish the season strongly, you certainly want to feel better about yourself," he said.

"And Sydney's had the wood over us. So it would be nice to end the season (with a win).

"Sydney have struggled for the last few weeks, so we've got to go down there and really take them on, and test our bodies to see if we have matured against them because they've manhandled us a bit in the last few years."

The big full forward, who has struggled with niggling injuries for much of the season, said there was no chance he would be rested against the Swans.

"I want to get out there and lead the side and make sure we train hard this week and not sulk around the place, set the right example," he said.

An announcement on Brown's future could be made as early as this week, with the off-contract 26-year-old indicating a decision was not far off.

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