The fourth-year mentor moved closer to Melbourne for work throughout the season, spending three days a week at the Mahony’s Transport’s Melbourne office and two days at its Terang base.

“I’ll just enjoy the company of the boys the next couple of days and really get around them,” Carse said after the 11-point defeat to Koroit on Saturday.

“I think it’s important that the group sticks tight together and then I’ve got a bit of thinking to do.”

Carse said Camperdown had the nucleus of a successful team. He believes the Magpies’ stunning 2018 season could be the building block for sustained success.

“As much as it hurts now and as hollow as the feeling is, there’s been such great development (this year) from the younger guys in the side and it means we’ve got the bones of a really good team for the next decade on the back of those guys,” Carse said.

“We have to take that hurt a little bit and use it to motivate us for the next couple of years.”

Carse said he was proud of the Magpies’ rise. They came from six 12 months ago to finish third, winning their first final in 12 years on their way to the decider.

“I hope they are really proud of everything they did because they just played with heart and passion every single week,” he said.

“They always brought a lot of pressure to the table and today was no different, they never took a backwards step and gave it everything and just fell a bit short of a very good side in the end.”