MPNFL: Bastinac father and sons to propel Pearcedale in 2022

Former North Melbourne and Brisbane player Ryan Bastinac is looking forward to achieving a special goal when he lines up in the MPNFL next year.

Ryan Bastinac in action for North Melbourne against Adelaide Crows.

Peter Bastinac says it’s going to be “pretty exciting” for his family.

He’s referring to coaching his two sons, Ryan and Jordan, at Pearcedale next season.

Not since junior footy, when the boys were kids, have the three been involved in the same football side.

Peter said 30-year-old Ryan, who played 164 AFL games with North Melbourne and Brisbane, was especially looking forward to playing senior footy with Jordan, 26.

“For the past 18 months to two years he’s been talking about being able to play with his younger brother,” Peter said.

“So he gets an opportunity now.”

The Bastinac boost has created plenty of excitement at Pearcedale, which hasn’t seen finals action since 2013.

Peter Bastinac coached Pearcedale to back-to-back premierships in 1995-96, when Ryan and Jordan were little tackers.

The nineties was a golden decade for the Dales, who had the best win percentage of all 30 MPNFL clubs.

Peter said his time at the Dales in the ‘90s was among the happiest of his football career.

“A hundred percent,” he said.

“I always look back on those years and I look at the friends I’ve made from there and they’re still my close mates likes John Martello and Stuey Gilchrist, they’re life long friends.

“I’ve got great memories from those days.

Jordan Bastinac as a Stingray.

“My youngest son (Jordan) was born that year in ‘95.

“And Ryan grew up knowing a lot about Pearcedale in his young days. He was four in ‘95.”

A quarter of a century has gone by since those heady Dales days but Bastinac understands the Pearcedale culture of passionate, tough and strong football.

Asked if the club had changed much since those early days, Bastinac joked: “I’ve heard there’s grass on the oval, fully covered now. So I’m excited to see that.”

Bastinac is looking forward to returning to Tractor Park. And he might even see some familiar faces.

“There’s a lot of father sons there, guys I’ve coached have kids running around which is exciting,” he said.

“And there are guys who I played against over the years and they’ve got boys there so there are going to be a lot of familiar faces.’’

Bastinac hopes it all leads to an injection of excitement next season and a jump up the ladder for the Dales.

“That’s part of the excitement…just getting back there and helping them become better,” he said.