Bouncing back from adversity has been a highlight of Melton South’s Ballarat Football League campaign.
Touted as a struggler before the season started and in a clear rebuilding phase, it would have been easy for the Panthers to succumb to a lot of pain without much gain in 2015.
But the club has shown an ability to fight with the best of them.
After a 222-point loss to North Ballarat City earlier in the year, Melton South bounced back the following week with a win over Sebastopol.
Two weeks later, the Panthers were dealt a 77-point thrashing by Darley, only to respond with what head coach Mark Pedersen called their best performance of the season in a narrow loss to finals-bound East Point.
“We actually have a song that we talk about which is, ‘I get knocked down, but I get up again’,” Pedersen said.
“As a club, we’re really happy where we’re at. We are still getting about 70 on the track, which is great.
“We have changed the culture of the club because you need to get things right off field before you get them right on field. We just need to get as many games into these young blokes as possible because they are the future of the club.”
Part of the reason for Melton South’s success has been the club’s strong coaching panel.
Pedersen has previously coached at VFL level, while former AFL players Darren Stanley and David Antonowicz form part of his panel.
They are joined by Shane Geddes, who has coached Riddell District Football League representative sides.
Pedersen said the relationship with the playing group was fantastic.
“We do a fair bit of talking with the players about how well they are learning,” Pedersen said.
“They need to understand they’re going to go through some short-term pain first. They are aware of that and understand that.”
The fighting attitude will need to be called upon again after Melton South went down to Ballarat at the weekend.
In what was a winnable game, the Panthers fell short by 37 points, 19.14 (128) – 13.13 (91).
Melton South will come up against fourth-placed Lake Wendouree this weekend.
