VANCOUVER -- Really, how angry or disappointed can Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans be today?

A Grey Cup appearance, let alone a victory was the expectation of only the most devout, and one could argue deluded, of the Bomber Nation as this season began.

Sure, once they got in the championship game it was fair to let the mind race and hope for a winning outcome, but after the hangovers have cooled and emotional wounds healed, there's lots of reason for the team and its fans to be feeling good.

No one should be surprised if the Bombers find themselves in Toronto next year for the 100th playing of the Grey Cup with more than a puncher's chance at winning the big mug and putting an end to the misery of a 21-year drought.

This trip was unexpected, but the Bombers will have good reason to expect a quick return.

"We want to compete and come here every year. We want to be the New York Yankees, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, you name it," said Bombers GM Joe Mack, minutes after the club he constructed had stepped off the field to begin their off-season. "I think we are on the right path and have come a long way. Losing is very disappointing and I don't think we played our best game. It's hard to have perspective in this moment but we're very young and still maturing. We have to get more consistent, in particular on offence. We have more to do and that's what we'll do this off-season. Try to get better."

Winnipeg was clearly second-best on Sunday, but that's much better than the 4-14 pain of just one year ago.

These Bombers skipped a step or two in their reclamation project, going all the way from worst to first in one season. There are no short cuts in the journey to supremacy and Sunday's loss was a reminder of that reality.

But there's far more good than bad to be taken from this season and with a little tinkering and continued emergence of young stars, the Bombers should remain a contender.

That's what fans want isn't it? A team that has the potential to win year in and year out and not just make a run out of the blue every five years or so.

Foundation, as in elite Canadian players, depth at quarterback and an angry defence built on speed, is what the Bombers have established. I understand that it hurts today, but a team sometimes needs to lose before it learns how to win a championship.

The Bombers took their lumps on Sunday. But when they subside in a few weeks, they'll be eager to get back to work and finish what they began this year.

The careful work of Mack and the continued maturation of head coach Paul LaPolice has already born a lot of fruit, but there's more to come.

The Bombers were the youngest team in the CFL this season with an average of 3.3 years experience per player. Mack said he expects just nine players to be eligible for free agency and he's already begun talks with all of them.

A year that saw them break out to 7-1 before evening off to finish 10-8 followed up by a win in the East Final will season them nicely.

And the sting of losing the title game? Imagine how hungry this group will be after marinating in the brine of defeat for an entire off-season.

The franchise has stability and a methodical football management team. They have a plan and a process.

There are improvements to make, the kicking game is suspect and the Bombers lack an elite offensive star. Mack understands this more than anyone and won't take much of a breather before getting to work on these flaws.

Losing sucks. But there were far more good moments than bad this season. It was fun and exciting and when the Bombers open up their new stadium next spring it will be with one of the best teams in the nation.

That's something to smile about, even if it hurts like hell to do so right now.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless

Gary Lawless, Winnipeg Free Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 28, 2011 C2