DOM Tyson says it was “bitterly disappointing” to not lock in a finals spot on Saturday, but is remaining optimistic that his team can still play off in September – based on Sunday’s results.

Speaking post-match after Melbourne’s 16-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG, Tyson said the situation was now “out of our hands” until Sunday night.

“The opportunity was there for us to cement the finals and we didn’t take it,” he told Melbourne TV.

“Collingwood brought intensity and out tackled us and out worked us early. We got back in it again, but ultimately the lead we gave up in the first quarter, we couldn’t quite claw back.

“We just have to wait until tomorrow (Sunday) and nervously. We really hope we get an opportunity to redeem ourselves and play finals for the club, for the supporters, for us, for the coaches. We feel like we let ourselves down at the end, so we want to play much more.”

Tyson said there was genuine “buzz and excitement” entering the game, and he couldn’t work out what happened.

“I can’t put my finger on it right away,” he said.

“We’ll find out if we’re lucky enough to get through and we’ll give it everything we’ve got to play a better brand of footy in a fortnight’s time.

“If we miss out, it’s a really disappointing way to finish the season.”

Still, Tyson said the players were treating the situation as if they have another game.

“We’ll recover now, seek physios and do extra recovery tomorrow (Sunday), but it’s just a waiting game and it’s out of our hands, which isn’t a good feeling because you want to be in control of your own destiny," he said. 

“We’ve let that opportunity slip and it’s just a nervous wait.”