MCUE coach Jeremy Rowe was proud of the way his players responded after being seriously challenged by Osborne in the third quarter on Saturday.
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With the Ostriches slamming on five goals to one for the term, Rowe admitted it was almost season on the line stuff.
"Our guys stood up when it counted," Rowe said.
"The concern out of the game was the third quarter as we were paper thin when they came at us but we have spoken about that.
"0-1 is a concern but if you are 0-2 you virtually have to win every game in such a shortened season."
Despite the teams meeting for the first time since 1930, Rowe said the Goannas knew plenty about Osborne.
"Matty Rava is a guy I grew up with, the Perryman boys are from Gullie and we know Duncan McMaster, Joel Mackie and Elliott Powell are good operators," he said.
"We treated Osborne with absolute respect today.
"They will do more than rattle some cages this year."
