Joe McConnell | AFLDD Media
In the sporting world, there is hardly anything more painful than losing a grand final in the closing seconds.
However for the University Cougars, revenge is not on the cards.
The Cougars will face off with the reigning champion Coolaroo Roos Friday night at the USQ AFL Oval to kick off the first round of the Allied Pickfords Cup.
In a rematch of last year’s memorable grand final in which the Roos came back from as many as 30 points down in the final quarter to steal victory, University has had to wait six long months to make another bid at a premiership run.
But with several changes to its core line up including the loss of key players Josh Timmer and Chris Davis, University is simply focusing on the much hyped round one matchup as another game to grow as a team.
Cougars head coach Shane Melrose said his squad is not looking at the game as a grudge match but simply as a chance to start off the 2014 campaign on the right foot.
“It’s a chance to start the season fresh due to eight key changes on our team,” Melrose said.
“We are rebuilding and focusing on this as a normal first round game. With the changes that each club have had I’m not even looking at this as a grand final rematch,” he said.
And while winning the first game of the season is always a positive, it doesn’t determine the final outcome.
Vice President of the University Cougars Andrew Speed noted that despite University beating Coolaroo three times during the season last year, it was the final match between the two that counted.
“It would be great to start the year with a win, but it doesn’t decide the entire season,” Mr Speed said.
Regardless, it’s hard to imagine that the match won’t be as hard fought as the previous time the two teams met.
The bitter taste of last year’s loss will be sure to fuel the returning University players who take the field Friday night with extra momentum.
The University Cougars will play the Coolaroo Roos Friday March 28 at 7pm on the USQ AFL Oval.
Last Modified on 08/04/2014 11:39
