Fremantle's damaged players had not even left the field of play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the recovery from what is one of the most heartbreaking grand final losses ever had already begun.
The bowels of the MCG acted as a safety bunker for Freo's players, a sanctuary away from prying eyes in the aftermath of a loss.
Fremantle's team bus was parked and ready to leave as family members, club workers and reporters filed in and out of the rooms.
Amid the cloud of devastation, the rays of hope already began to shine through.
Before the players retreated to the rooms, their crestfallen loved ones looked to console them, even though it seemed an impossible task, before trying to impart whatever positive vibes they'd managed to summon.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir, a man who has overseen this team's rise to be a bona fide contender over the past seven seasons, said there was no way to soften the blow for his "devastated" charges.
Brisbane's heist left Longmuir in tears before the final siren, and when he gathered his players on the ground in the immediate aftermath, the message was clear: "Have each other's back."
Longmuir continued the theme of positivity by saying he would like to see Wharfie Time return, downplaying the impact it had on Fremantle's collapse, but when your opponent openly speaks about using it as motivation, it is time to bury the gimmick.
The bells tolling after Patrick Voss's goal with just over four minutes left allowed Fremantle's fans to dare to dream, and in the aftermath, the players said they did as well.