The Blues bowed out to the Lions by seven points in their elimination final at the Gabba on Saturday night, but Houlihan said just being able to play in a final had been a great experience.
"Half our list has got (finals) experience so that can only help us for next year," Houlihan said.
"It’s a missed opportunity but you go through all our list and everyone’s just taken a massive step so we’re looking forward to next year."
Houlihan picked up 25 disposals and one goal in an impressive display as Carlton dominated possessions (351 to 317) for most of the match.
Chris Judd led from the front with 30 touches and a goal, as Carlton produced 11 different goal scorers.
Kade Simpson (23 disposals), Andrew Carrazzo (25) and Marc Murphy (25) all played well, but it was Carlton’s undersized defence that couldn’t match it with the Lion’s tall timber, Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw.
"I suppose we need a key back, that would be good, I don’t know where you get one of them from," Houlihan said.
"But all our younger guys have taken a huge step and developed so we don’t need too much.
"We just need to get a little bit fitter and obviously the development of the kids and that finals experience will help us next year."
Houlihan said there were no regrets about not flooding their defence more when 30 points clear after Cameron Cloke kicked the first goal in the final quarter.
"We were playing attacking football and that got us to the point where we were 30 points up so I don’t think you can go ultra defensive or else they’ll end up scoring anyway," Houlihan said.
"The game went through momentum swings and we knew that they were going to come back and get their chance, we just had to stop the leaking of scoring which we couldn’t do in the end."
