Michaela Meade
Mark Pederson thought he had retired from football for good, but is now returning to the game to hopefully lead Melton Centrals to a premiership.
Pederson’s winning experience will precede him as he joins the club as senior coach for the 2022 season of the Riddell District Football League.
He won a premiership each at Lalor and Romsey, and put coaching experience under his belt with Coburg at the VFL level.
Pederson also completed a stint as coach at Melton South.
Pederson said it “feels great” to have been appointed to the position.
“I thought I was retired forever,” he said.
“But the fire’s burning in the belly.
“I thought why not try and help this club, and turn it around, build that winning culture.”
Pederson said he was looking forward to seeing what he could push the players at Melton Centrals to accomplish.
“It’s not about me, I’m just commanding the ship,” he said.
“It’s about what I can get the players to do, and about the right sort of players I can bring to the club.
“I’m only recruiting players who want to buy into our culture.
“Because they’re really good people at Melton Centrals, so I’m going to make sure that I do the right thing by the club.”
Pederson said that he wanted to see the club take out the premiership for 2022, and said there were other things he was looking to improve among the players along the way.
“I’m looking at improving the players’ fitness, and try and teach them a new way of playing the game, without making it difficult,” Pederson said.
“I’m not going to try and reinvent the wheel, I’m just going to make it enjoyable for them.
“Obviously winning is very important, and it’s something that if you haven’t come from a winning culture, you really don’t know what you’re missing.
“It’s really important to build that winning culture with them.
“If I can leave the club [as] a better place for me being there, then I believe I’ve done my job.”
Melton Centrals vice president Drew Heath said Pederson’s vision for the club matched well with what they wanted.
“Mark’s coaching philosophy and clear desire on the culture he would like to instill lined up perfectly with what the club has been working towards for several years,” Heath said.
“It feels great to have someone of Mark’s calibre coaching our young list.
“His professionalism and discipline is just what our group needs.
“Mark is very well respected within not only our community but the broader football community. “We are looking forward to seeing what Mark can do to support and improve our young, maturing list.”
