“It could've been three with a bit of luck. I'm not sure why my second was disallowed," he said.

"Especially in the context of the game with us being down to ten men, but it was good to score my header to get us back to 2-2.”

Ognenovsk, 27, believes he'll be Frank Farina's secret weapon in front of goals this season for the Roar.

“I fancy myself from the dead-ball," he said. "All the boys say I'll never score but I've been telling them I might score a winner in the finals.

"The boys have been working on set pieces. And when you get good delivery for whoever, be it me or Reinaldo or Ante [Milicic] or Simon [Lynch], we can score.”

And he revealed the secret of the kiss on the arm he gave himself after scoring. “My sons' names are on my tattoo: my two boys,” he said.

The imposing defender feels the 2-2 draw shut up some critics who had questioned Roar's team unity.

Before the game, former Roar keeper Scott Higgins - a back up keeper at Adelaide - questioned publicly Queensland's team spirit. Ognenovski was having none of that.

“I think the person who said that has sour grapes," he said. "They had us on the ropes and we showed character to come back.

"With our full first 11, not many teams will outplay us. We're setting our sights on the finals.”

Looking ahead to this weekend's round two clash against the Jets, Ognenovski says Newcastle will be difficult in the Hunter, particularly with the debut of Brazilian Mario Jardel.

But the defender is not one to get too flustered about playing on a superstar.

“Jardel's a player of stature," he said. "But I don't get scared or worried. If I'm on my game he'll not get too many touches. They looked a bit flat in Perth.

“Dutchy [Jets coach Gary Van Egmond] was saying they haven't had a full pre-season. Probably now is the best time to get them.

"I think we should be able to come away with the three points.”

If they do get the three points, it'll be done without Roar without skipper Craig Moore who's been given an automatic one-game suspension following his red card against the Reds.

Playing alongside the former Glasgow Rangers and Newcastle United defender has been a good learning curve for Ognenovski, a former Victorian Premier League defender who made the step up to A-League football last season.

“He teaches me about blocking runs when strikers use one-twos," he added.

"Obviously I've played that position [central defence] and I've got my own style but it's good to learn from his smarts.

"Everyone think they can play defender but it's not that easy.”