Maybe that's why I'm excited for our round-two clash on Friday night, because three years later I'm still waiting for a chance to beat one of our biggest rivals.

There's always an extra edge to training in the days leading up to an Australian derby. They're huge matches in the context of the Australian conference and it's mate versus mate on the field.

But one of the biggest things driving me in the first few weeks of the season has been wanting to give our new players an experience they'll never forget.

There are a certain set of traditions about officially becoming a Brumby. Your family is invited to the last training session, or to send a message via video, to wish you good luck.

After the game, and hopefully after a win, a teammate presents you with your official Brumbies cap and number before we throw you into the middle of the huddle to sing the team song.

Almost all of our five rookies last week mumbled their way through Proud to be a Brumby, but that's OK because I reckon Pete Samu still does't know all the words.

I was lucky enough to present Will Miller with his cap and told him how proud I was of him deciding to join the Brumbies family.

It's a moment that sticks with you forever. Wallabies and Brumbies great Stephen Larkham presented my cap on that night in Melbourne, even though we were all stinging from a 19-17 defeat.

It was a moment I had dreamed of since I was a kid, and even though I had been to an Olympic Games less than 12 months earlier, it is something I will savour for the rest of my life.

I hope Will, Noah Lolesio, Solomone Kata, Caderyn Neville and Harry Lloyd feel the same way.

It felt like the start of a new era with so many new Brumbies last week and the fresh faces in all Australian teams was a changing of the guard.

We were lucky enough to start with a gritty win against the Reds and hopefully we continue that momentum this week.

Sometimes after a match it can be hard to wind down, especially when the game starts in 39.5 degree heat, there's a state of emergency in the ACT and the result goes down to the wire.

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This week, however, will be easy because we'll be spending our recovery day at the Braidwood sevens, which is raising money for fire affected families and businesses in the region.

Some ex-Brumbies will come out of retirement to play in Ben Alexander's "The Dockheads" team, so expect to see Huia Edmonds lurking on the wing to try to sneak a try.

I was with a group of players who tried to get to Braidwood before Christmas to show our appreciation to the Rural Fire Service. We were diverted to Queanbeyan because of the fires, but we'll be there turning sausages and running water this weekend to help in anyway possible.

Australian stars Lewis Holland and Charlotte Casslick will be there as well and hopefully the turnout is a major boost for the region after a tough summer so far.

And finally, don't forget our fan day at the University of Canberra on Sunday. We'd love to see as many people as possible there, hopefully after a win against the Rebels.