“Winning isn’t everything – it’s the only thing.”

Vince Lombardi was one of the most successful NFL coaches of all time, but with this famous one liner, I think he was sorely mistaken.

Growing up watching footy on TV, and having interviewed a few coaches now, I have tended to heed some phrases with a grain of salt.

Most prominently, when teams are getting flogged each week and the coach deflects pressure by saying something like “we’re looking to improve in certain key areas and once we do that, the results will follow.”

Or another gem, coming out of the expansion era – “We just want to develop our kids, but the results for us are still a couple of years away.”

Rubbish, right? Winning is the only real marker of success – just ask North Melbourne.

I’m the kind of person who tries to win in a warm up lap of the oval – so to say, I’m naturally competitive, would potentially be an understatement.

If you had asked me four weeks ago, I definitely would have stolen a line from Ricky Bobby in that modern classic, Talladega Nights – “If you’re not first, you’re last.”

But I have had somewhat of an epiphany in the last month, and it has come in the form of a 0-4 start to the footy season.

You know what? Maybe there’s something more to sport than winning.

Last week, the UQ Red Lionesses faced off against Palm Beach at UQ.

We put on the best defensive pressure all season, had some of the most efficient passages of play we’ve ever completed and even almost got a bounce out of someone.

In every way, we beat our previous performances hands down, and it felt like it, Never mind that the scoreboard read 81-5

I’m not going to say that we felt like the true winners, because that would be an out and out lie.

But, we’ve improved in a number of key areas and now we’re just a few small tweaks (and maybe a couple fewer concussions) away from getting a W on the board.

And the best part about it is that everyone has an incredible time – each week, we enjoy taking an opponent down just that little bit more, a few more kicks find their targets and the ball enters our forward line just a little more often.

And at the final siren, we’re the team with the biggest smiles, the most laughs and plenty of positive things to say to eachother.

Wait, what?

Maybe not everything coaches say is a complete lie.

The way I see it, we’re like the GWS of the SEQAFL Women’s League.

All the effort and none of the experience (and no Kevin Sheedy).

The great news is that experience comes easily, effort is the hard thing to get.

Okay, so winning is still pretty nice – but I’d far prefer a 0-13 season that you enjoy every second of than an 13-0 season that feels like torture.

And when everything starts to align, there’s a guarantee that we’ll enjoy winning too.

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This weekend sees the Red Lions take on the Springwood Pumas in their third home set of the season. Surprising many with their performances and proving they belong in the Allied Pickfords Cup, UQ will be looking to snag a couple more wins across the board this Saturday and it all starts at 10am.

Coming off a disappointing result last start, The Doc’s under-18s will now have a good idea as to where they are at after copping a whack from Sandgate’s Colts. With the nearby Sandgate SHS being the closest thing to a footy factory in Queensland, the boys may still be a little sore, but their youth will surely have them up and about for this one. With high school and uni exams around the corner, it will come as no surprise if the lads start with ants in their pants after being cooped up studying all week. Look for the boys to start strong and finish stronger, stringing together four solid quarters which hopefully sees them come away with the chocolates.

Midday sees Uni’s undefeated two’s side take on the Puma’s reserves who are sitting at 2-2. After really having to earn the four points out at Sandgate last weekend, the magoos will be wary of a Springwood outfit which pumped Coolie last start. Like most reserves matches look for the tone to be set early as each side tries to strong-arm the other.

Finally at 2:15pm it’s the big one. Armed with a handful of ex-AFL recruits Springwood will take to Oval 7 for the first time and Hollywood’s men are chomping at the bit to give the 4-0 Pumas a taste of how footy is played at the greatest tertiary education establishment in Queensland. Don’t let UQ’s 1-3 record fool you – having been in all four of their contest’s at three-quarter time this season they know that when they play their best footy they are hard to beat. A four quarter effort from the Red Lions coupled with some raucous support from the clubhouse end could just spell an upset – don’t miss it!

UQ’s Zac Southern hasn‘t taken long to make his mark at the Red Lions.

If Southern continues in this vein of form, he’s doing everything to grab selectors’ attention this season.

Tia Bool, Felicity Angliss, Amelia House, Daryl Jensen, Ally Lynch, Kate Harvey and Meaghan Wolbers will all be representing the UQAFC and we wish them all the best. Their games are:

• 12:00pm Thursday April 25th vs SEQ South @ Yeronga
• 6:00pm Friday April 26th vs Cairns @ Coorparoo
• 11:30pm Saturday April 27th vs Capricornia @ Kedron

Matthew grew up in Devonport Tasmania, where he played the majority of his football for St Brendon Shaw College. Past coach Neil Wilkinson (who is the father of his current coach, Gareth) rated Matthew as a multi-skilled, team player who was able to excel on the field thanks to his elite stamina and running ability.

After moving to Brisbane to undertake studies in Physiotherapy, Matthew first came to the Red Lions in 2006. In his 7 years at the club, he has established himself as a player valued for his fitness and versatility having played a number of roles – be it a goal-kicking forward, a key backman or a run-with midfielder.

Renowned for his multi-coloured headbands and fondness for lycra, Matthew has been an integral part of the 2008 and 2012 Division 1 Reserve-grade premiership teams.

UQAFC would like to thank Matthew for his significant contribution to the club. We wish him all the best for Saturday and look forward to seeing him run out on the ground with sons Indiana and Casper in tow.

With Allied Pickfords Cup footy kicking off around Southeast Queensland this Saturday the UQ Red Lions look to make a bit of noise at Oval 7 against Maroochydore. Moving up a grade and happy to embrace their tag as new kids on the block, the Red Lions emerge from an strong pre-season with but one thing on their collective minds – success.

Back from a two-year exile the UQ Bulldogs look to get things rolling with Brisbane’s most interesting man, Dr Crill, taking the reins for the first time as Head Coach from 10am. Stacked with youngsters who love nothing more than getting their head over it and having a Pasito after the game, this match will likely be won by the side who is prepared to break the lines with their run and carry. In a league full of teams loaded with underage talent this clash will well and truly whet the appetite for the Reserves game which starts at midday.

Coming off consecutive Premierships in Division 2, UQ’s second’s outfit know a thing or two about winning football games. Determined not to be overrawed in this first-up encounter in Division 1, UQ has named a great mix of young talent and wise heads with club stalwarts Gareth Wilkinson and Chris Burgess holding the whiteboard. Look for this game to be heated early as UQ’s mettle is put to the test by a Kangaroos side trying to turn around a poor 2012.

2:15pm is the big one – top flight footy back at Oval 7 for the first time since the early 80s. With Coach H-wood coming in late following a pre-season coaching re-shuffle, UQ’s A-grade side has experienced a galvanisation synonymous with zinc on iron. Believing they have what it takes to be a contender in the AP Cup this year, UQ will look to utilise their youth in tandem with a couple of seasoned heads scattered around the ground. Seeking nothing less than the 4 points, UQ’s players are desperate to show that they have not entered this competition on a whim and will hopefully be here for many years to come.

So be sure to get on down to the University of Queensland this Saturday for what promises to be a cracking day of Australian rules football!

Cookie was an integral part of last year’s Division 3 Reserves premiership side, using his his physical presence and martial arts experience to become one of the most intimidating personas around the club both on and off the field. Renowned for winning plenty of hard ball Cookie is often the lynch-pin of UQAFC attacks from the half-back line, while his devout commitment to the infamous Rosy Freers sessions has also given him one of the biggest tanks in the side.

It is with great reluctance that we come to unfortunately say farewell to the Cookie Monster this year as he takes up a position with the Australian Defence Force mid-year. The club looks forward to celebrating Chris’s milestone this weekend and wishes him all the best in the future.