Macri took time to converse with every single player in the sheds afterwards as the club's quest to secure a first flag since 2011 fell a couple of steps short in a 41-point loss at Robertson Oval.

After being finals spectators for a few years, Macri guided the Lions to a preliminary final in 2018 and an elimination final last season before losing on the penulatimate week of the six-team AFL Riverina Championship.

The Lions aren't in a position to confirm who his replacement may be just yet, but Macri said it was time for someone else to take on the challenge of leading the club to the top.

"Three years is probably all I can do. It's been a very exhausting season this year, even though it's only been short," he said.

"It's been really challenging with the to-ing and fro-ing of the whole pre-season (amidst COVID-19 uncertainty), and getting the players back up again.

"I've had two prelim finals and an elimination final, before that we hadn't played finals for a while and we wanted to turn the club around and get it back on track.

"I've got a family and the kids are growing up and busy with their sport. It's time to put some energy into that side of things.

"From a footy side of things I can step back as a supporter now and get more heavily involved in the junior side of things on a Sunday."

Macri said he doesn't envisage returning to senior coaching, at least for the foreseeable future.

"I love the place and I'm not going anywhere but that's me for a coaching side of things for a long time I would say, at least at senior level," he said.

"You never say never, but it's probably time for someone else to have a go at it and provide a different voice and ideas.

"I've loved it and all the support Jason (Hamblin, president) has given me and right the way down.

"There's one team that wins it every season and unfortunately we're not there yet but there's so much more to footy than the wnning and losing side of things."

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