THEY played in back-to-back flags with Temora as teenagers, and Coolamon co-coach Jake Barrett is hoping to repeat the dose with Matt Harpley again after the Hoppers signed the forward for next season.
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Barrett and Harpley were just 16 and 18 respectively when they featured in the first two of the Roos' three straight premierships in 2012 and 2013, and will reunite in green and white in season 2021.
Harpley is keen for a shot at the Riverina League after managing to play a full season for Temora this year after missing all of 2018 with a second knee reconstruction.
The 26-year-old first ruptured his ACL in the back end of 2015, forcing him to sit out 2016, before re-injuring it in the first week of finals in 2017 which put paid to his 2018 season.
But getting through last year's campaign, and having the chance to strengthen his legs in the gym this year, has the forward fully confident heading into 2021.
"I was talking to them (Coolamon) last year but I was coming off my second reco and didn't know how I was going to go, or even get through a season," Harpley said.
"I stayed in town (Temora), and got a bit of confidence back there. I've been in the gym, doing some weights and being able to strengthen my legs up again, because when I'm training and running it just got too sore.
"It feels pretty good, getting through last year gives me a fair bit of confidence. It's sore every now and then, but I think it will do that forever.
"They seem like a good club, like Temora, and it's not far from home, and I probably know half a dozen or so players there, I thought I needed a change and to have a crack at the Riverina League."
Co-coach Barrett said not playing this season had given the club time to lock down their squad, and identify areas they needed to bolster.
Harpley was a prime recruiting target to give them more options up forward.
"We didn't go ahead this year but it gave us an advantage to sit down with players early and have discussions," Barrett said.
"Matt was one of our key targets and I've seen what he can do and has done, and I feel like he can be a real target for us.
"He got back last year for a full season and has had this year off and he's been smashing the gym and his rehab.
"One thing I did say to the club was come finals time he seems to find another gear and that's something we wanted to look for.
"In 2019 when we got knocked out with two straight finals losses we wanted to add players who have had some experience in the big games."
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