The reigning TAC Cup premiers, needing a win against eighth-placed Northern Knights to sneak into the finals, were unable to keep their season alive at the W.J. Findlay Oval on Saturday.

As has been the case all year, poor foot skills and inconsistency dogged the Bushies, who succumbed 13.8 (86) to 8.11 (59) despite enjoying periods of dominance against the Denis Pagan-coached Knights.

But the Bushies’ finals ambitions were dashed in the final term as they coughed up seven goals to three as the visitors charged home.

The Bushies’ demise started back in round 14, with a 105-point flogging at the hands of the Eastern Ranges, which started a downward spiral of five losses in the last six games of the season.

The Bushies spent 17 of 20 weeks inside the top eight but won’t have the chance to defend the flag they won so emphatically 11 months ago.

Murray coach Phil Bunn said his side just was not good enough when it counted.

“The boys tried really hard all year but we weren’t good enough — that’s the reality,” he said.

“To not play finals is very disappointing.

“I said to the kids after the game that over your footy career, there will be good times and disappointing times, and this is one of the disappointing times.”

Bunn said improving the team’s disposal by foot would be a focus after a year where the Bushies struggled to consistently hit targets.

“Yesterday&rsquo ;s loss goes back to the same problems we’ve had all year — we give the ball back to the opposition too often,” he said.

“We’re the number one team in the competition for kick clangers.

“I think for next year we’ll have to do a lot of work on kicking under intense, game-like pressure ... because we turned the ball over too often, that really killed us.”

After a frustrating and eventually disappointing season, Bunn could at least highlight some positives.

“Some of our young kids really came on, like Anthony Miles and Shaun Atley, who were probably the most impressive of the younger players, and the alliance with VFL clubs Collingwood and Geelong also gave five or six of our kids some valuable experience at senior level,” he said.