Western Force captain Jeremy Williams was "shattered" after the side's 19-15 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific win over Fijian Drua at HBF Park on Saturday night.
With just a home game against the Waratahs remaining next Saturday the victory was not enough to catch the sixth-placed Queensland Reds and a first finals campaign.
They needed a bonus point win to give them a chance but fell short and their sixth win of the season, the fourth in five games, was a bittersweet moment for Williams.
The second-rower, whose late disallowed try would have meant just one more five-pointer was needed for the important extra point, said it was a weird feeling at the final whistle.
"It's really bittersweet," he said.
"You're obviously really happy to get the win, for the team, the fans, the club, KB (Kurtley Beale who became the third most capped player in Super Rugby with 186) and Boston (Fakafanua) on debut.
"Really happy to get the win for those guys but it's also shattering because something you've worked so hard for all year just gets taken away from you.
"It's on us. We've got to put ourselves in better positions at the end of the year to do things on our own terms. It's really disappointing.
"It's kind of weird. You're stoked to get the win - but is the team song going to be all that energetic. It's going to be a weird vibe.
"It's something we've got to take on the chin and coming into next week we've still got a lot to play for.
"We want to put a performance in that we're really proud of and is what the Western Force is about."
Coach Simon Cron was equally disappointed.
"The boys are gutted. I'm gutted," he said. "The standards and expectations in that team are high
"Very disappointed for the boys and how much work they've put in."
The Force got off to a slow start and were pinned in their half for long periods.
They finished making 222 tackles, 120 more than the Drua.
Cron said the side had been "massive" all year in the tackle count.
"It's been a huge area of the game," he said.
"The heart and spark that they showed to get up off the ground every time and keep hitting people is phenomenal."
Cron said they would review speed to the ruck ahead of Saturday's clash.
"We were too slow at the breakdown," he said. "The ball carry was OK but we were going to ground before we arrived and we can't have that.
"You just need to get a little bit closer before we hit the ground. The key part for us is when we are in attack is some simple skill execution areas."
He said the loss highlighted the need for more bonus points during the season.
"We are still a team that is learning a lot in big moments, tight moments, how to roll a team at the end," he said. "They will take a lot out of the season."
Homegrown flanker Carlo Tizzano opened the scoring with his 30th Force try, equalling foundation player Cameron Shepherd's long-standing record.
His 11th five pointer in 11 games at HBF Park and Max Burey's conversion were the only Force first-half points.
After the break barnstorming No.8 Vaiolini Ekuasi added the Force second, Burey converted, and winger Zac Lomax crossed wide.
The Drua crossed twice before the break from flanker Kitione Salawa and hooker Zuriel Togiatama. Kemu Valetini converted one and added a penalty after the break.
