COLLINGWOOD'S Alex Fasolo refuses to believe his shot at glory passed him by in his first year of AFL.
Fasolo experienced a whirlwind maiden season, debuting in Round 12 of 2011 and being dropped just once, for the three-point preliminary final win over Hawthorn, on his way to a Grand Final berth.
But the story had no fairytale ending for Fasolo and the West Australian was forced to watch from the sidelines in the sub's vest as the Magpies' heartbreak unfolded, entering the game in the fourth quarter and unable to reverse his team's fortunes.
"As a junior, if you ever got to bump into an AFL player and talk to them about the ultimate goal, they all used to say there was no worse feeling than losing a Grand Final," Fasolo said.
"You sort of believe them, but it's not until you're actually out there that you realise how painful it is.
"People probably looked at me and thought, 'Oh, it's his first year, he's probably just stoked to be out there', but seeing the heartbreak on the faces of guys who really know you don't play in a Grand Final every year and to lose it, it was horrible.
"It's definitely a driving factor.
"But if you asked me now the difference between that team in 2011 and our team this year, I'd say our team this year is looking very strong and is just as much a chance.
"We've got a window of another few years where we'll hopefully shake the comp up."
Fasolo is in line to make his first NAB Cup appearance of the season in Perth next Sunday against West Coast in the second round of the competition.
A foot injury suffered late last year had restricted his pre-season, but he said he was nearing full fitness and could join fellow West Australian Quinten Lynch in the clash against the Eagles.
The game would mark Lynch's first trip to Patersons Stadium as a Magpie since the premiership-winning West Coast forward left the Eagles at the end of last season.
"I was a massive West Coast fan growing up and the Big Q (Lynch) was my hero, so it's really good to be training with him now and he's setting a really high standard on the track," Fasolo said.
"He's looking forward to (playing at Patersons Stadium) and he's looking at it as a positive in that he knows the ground better than any of us. He's a bit curious about the reception he'll receive from the home crowd.
"I'd like to think he'd get a nice reception, but I don't know; I was a West Coast fan and I don't think I'd like the idea of somebody leaving my club, so he might cop it.
"It's always good to come and play in Perth and I've been lucky enough to do it a couple of times.
"I do remember (the last game for us there), it was towards the end of last year and it wasn't the best result.
"But we beat them at the 'G and that's all that matters."
West Coast gave Collingwood a 49-point belting in the most recent game at Patersons Stadium between the sides, Round 22 last year, before the Magpies had the final say in a 13-point, semi-final win at the MCG.
They were the latest instalments of a Magpies-ruled rivalry in recent years, with Collingwood also winning the 2011 qualifier by a 20-point margin.
"We've been lucky enough to get over the line the majority of times, but we've had some great games," Fasolo said.
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