South Warrnambool's Eliza Dwyer endured a bittersweet end to the 2018 Hampden league season.
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Her side finished fifth and snuck into finals, only to be bundled out in the first week after a 20-goal flogging at the hands of Port Fairy.
But Dwyer went on to be recognised as the league's most valuable player.
"We're going to forget about that game, because it definitely wasn't us," Dwyer said of South's elimination final loss.
"I think finals pressure can just get to you sometimes. We didn't play our own game and I know I got sucked into what the umpires were doing."
And as much it hurt, Dwyer, who won flags with Skipton in the Central Highlands League in 2014 and 2016, said she hoped the stinging loss would provide healthy motivation for South Warrnambool in 2019.
"Any finals exposure is good because it's a completely ball game to the home-and-away season," she said.
"Skipton were always the underdogs, but we won those two flags, so I know from experience that anything can happen.
"It doesn't matter who finished where on the ladder. You've just got to play your own game and not get caught up with what's happening in the crowd or the opposition."
The Roosters will be without Liz Byrne and Alexandra O'Connor this season.
But Dywer, 25, said the mood was bright around the club during pre-season.
First, because of the work done by coach Mandy van Rooy.
I can't wait to see where we go from here.
- Eliza Dwyer
"I love working with Mandy," Dwyer said.
"She's always open to new ideas and has so much knowledge of the game relating to different aspects of the court.
"I think she's really smart in her game-plan and is a really approachable person."
And secondly, because there is a string of youngsters ready to step up from the 17 and under side.
She said Isabella Rae, who was joint-runner up in the 2018 HFNL under 17 best-and-fairest, would push for a regular spot in the open team, along with other youngsters in Jess Hardiman, Hannah Loveday and Meg Sutherland.
"We've got a clean slate this year with some young, fit girls," Dwyer said.
"So I can't wait to see where we go from here."
"I want us to be a strong, level-headed team that sticks together."
And in terms of picking out front-runners for the premiership outside her own club, Dwyer doesn't hesitate.
"You can't go past Koroit," the goal-shooter said.
"They've just got a reputation for winnings flags.
"But some of the country teams like Cobden and Camperdown are really tough as well. And I think Hamilton, Portland and Warrnambool will show great improvement."
