Two weeks ago they let a win get to their heads – now the Brisbane Lions are trying to keep the lid on after their thrilling near-miss against Sydney.

Midfielder Ben Keays, who played his first AFL game in the three-point loss to the Swans at the Gabba, said the Lions were delighted with their performance but this time have to back it up.

“It’s kind of been one week on, one week off in our preparation this year,” Keays admitted.

“If we can get that consistency and just do the same thing every week, and bring that intent, we should be fine.

“There should be quite a few wins coming around the corner.”

They were so nearly there against the Swans, but fell just short in a cracking finish to Sunday’s match.

It wasn’t without controversy – play was stopped in the dying stages, when a stretcher was rushed out for Sydney’s Callum Sinclair, who was down injured more than 100m away from the ball.

That incident, which the AFL has since confirmed was a mistake by umpires, has taken some of the gloss away from what was one of Brisbane’s best performances in recent memory.

But Keays said not all of the praise is justified.

“Even though we’ve been applauded for our effort and stuff, we still lost,” he said.

“There’s still a lot of things we need to fix up, just real little things structure-wise because it’s amazing – one little mistake from one bloke setting up the structure can cost a goal, and the result was three points in the end.

“If we get rid of those little things … we should give ourselves a good chance to win every week.”

The Lions will fancy their chances of an upset when they face struggling Port Adelaide on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.

“It’s winnable. We’re not going in over-confident, obviously – Port Adelaide are a good side,” Keays said.

“Some results haven’t gone their way but they’ve been a good side for a few years.

“But the boys are pretty hungry now. It’ll be a pretty interesting day.”