He'll have to wait a little longer to be a premiership-winning captain, but ANU skipper Daniel Leerdam remains the living embodiment of an "outstanding" attitude.
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That's the view of Weston Creek Molonglo captain John Rogers, who led his side to an emotional four-wicket win in the John Gallop Cup grand final over ANU at Stirling Oval on Sunday.
Leerdam says he was "in all sorts" when he was rushed off in an ambulance after collapsing with a concussion midway through the second innings.
But he still sent Rogers a congratulatory text message later in the day despite dealing with the unenviable combination of a concussion and a grand final loss.
The delayed onset concussion came hours after he was hit on the head by a ball when he was batting. Scoreless at the time, Leerdam batted on for almost 50 overs for an inspirational 98 (158).
"I copped a knock, I was on zero at the time actually, from Harry Medhurst in the head and I kept batting. I didn't feel great but I kept going," Leerdam said.
"Then when we were fielding I got more dizzy and lightheaded. I went to take a knee and then went on the ground and I was in all sorts. I'm alright, just a mild concussion so it's not too bad."
Weston Creek Molonglo lifted the weight of three straight one-day final losses off their shoulders in the final-over thriller, bouncing back from the "low point" of the Twenty20 grand final loss and a poor start to their Gallop Cup campaign.
Rogers says his side's ability to make a record-breaking 11th straight grand final across all formats speaks volumes about their character, but he had plenty of praise for Leerdam and the Owls.
"There's a lot of change happening at ANU and it's all for the better," Rogers said.
"Daniel Leerdam played a hell of a knock particularly given that he got knocked in the head straight up and then he left in an ambulance halfway through the fielding innings.
"For him to bat for 50 overs, to get to 98, it probably personifies what ANU are doing at the moment. Their attitude is outstanding and it's led by him."
The Owls posted 9-225, which was always going to be a tough ask to defend on a wicket renowned as a batsman's paradise.
But the underdogs gave themselves a fighting chance when they knocked over Weston Creek Molonglo openers Robbie Trickett (5) and Blake Dean (0), leaving the hosts teetering at 2-10.
But Rogers (36) strode to the crease and put together a 105-run partnership with former Owl Mark Bennett (70) to regain control.
The hosts needed two runs for victory heading into the 50th over, and it was fitting "the heart and soul of Weston Creek" Harry Medhurst (52* from 75) was there when the game was won.
ANU claimed the second grade title with a crushing eight-wicket win over Wests-UC, with Englishman Matthew Lawes claiming 7-28 (9.5 overs) to roll the Lions for a paltry 44.
That was the only trophy ANU could salvage on an historic day that saw them compete in all four grades, with Queanbeyan winning the third and fourth grade titles.
WESTON CREEK MOLONGLO 6-226 (Mark Bennett 70, Harry Medhurst 52*; Chamod Herath 3-30, Ben Mitchell 2-39) bt ANU 9-225 (Daniel Leerdam 98, Scott Murn 42; Harry Medhurst 3-57, Blake Dean 2-40) at Stirling Oval.
