The Tigers were left with mixed emotions after they struggled to a heavy defeat at the hands of northern conference champions the Brisbane Lions reserves, 22.12 (144) to 11.9 (75).

It was a sombre way for club stalwart Roy Jaques to end his career and emotion was swirling after playing coach Kade Klemke's grandmother died last week.

But the Tigers can still walk away from their season satisfied and happy after they defied the odds to end a 12-year NEAFL eastern conference premiership drought last weekend.

Klemke - a 22-year-old coach - turned the club around from a horror 2011 campaign to lead it to a successful season.

While the loss to the Lions will leave a bitter-sweet taste, the year was still a success.

The clash with the Lions was always going to test the Tigers.

They fired up for the eastern final against the Sydney Swans reserves and the conference grand final is still widely regarded as the most important title.

There were mixed feelings at their Mad Monday celebrations after beating the Swans and a drained Klemke admitted his team lacked the passion and fight to clinch another title.

''We thought we were a real chance, but I think the passion and intensity wasn't there like it was last week,'' Klemke said.

''It was pretty hard for our boys to get up. We played on passion [against the Swans] and this week just showed that with our preparation, it wasn't that great and that probably affected the way we played. Coming up against an AFL side, you need to get everything right … this week it just wasn't there.''

The Tigers started the match where they left off last weekend and were locked in a tight battle for the first quarter.

But a four-goal blitz after the first break gave the Lions an important lead and from there the Tigers were never able to peg it back.

Despite trying to fight on, there was just no juice left in the tank.

The Lions boasted nine AFL-listed players and were coming off an easy conference victory over the Northern Territory Thunder.

In contrast, the Tigers were locked in a dogfight against the Swans and only clinched the premiership trophy in the last quarter. Former Hawthorn rookie Jordan Lisle tore the Tigers apart, booting eight goals and the Lions had four other multiple goal-kickers.

The Tigers had just three goal-kickers with more than one major.

The result ended Jaques's hopes of finishing his career with two premierships in just six days.

But Jaques - who was chaired off the ground by his teammates - said he was walking away with no regrets.

''They were just too good, we got close but we just couldn't stick with them,'' Jaques said. ''It's no secret that the northern conference is a fair bit stronger and it is a mental challenge to get up for a second week in a row. I think this is the perfect time to go, I'm at peace with my decision and I couldn't ask for anything more.''