Melton Centrals lure a decorated coach out of retirement for RDFL 2022

Melton Centrals have lured a RDFL and NFL premiership-winning coach out of retirement and he’s got big plans for 2022 and beyond.

New Melton Centrals coach Mark Pedersen.

New Melton Centrals coach says this will be his last coaching job and possibly his greatest achievement.

The Blues lured the decorated coach out of retirement for the 2022 Riddell District season, replacing Matt Sproule.

Pedersen won a Northern league Division 2 premiership with Lalor in 2007 before guiding Centrals’ RDFL rival Romsey to the flag in 2011.

He also spent time as an assistant at VFL club Coburg under Peter German, led Melton South in the Ballarat league and was an assistant at Darley when it won the premiership in 2017.

Centrals haven’t played finals since 2012, haven’t won a premiership in their 25-year history and won just two games in 2021.

However, Pedersen believed if he could help turn the Blues into a finals force, it would be one of his best achievements.

“It’s an exciting time for the club, it’s an exciting time for me, this will be my last coaching stint and I intend it to be maybe my greatest,” he said.

“I’d retired after 2017, I went on the board at Coburg and took on a new job which involves me travelling interstate and even to New Zealand.

“Centrals were really keen, I asked them where they were financially and what they wanted to change at the club because there needed to be a few and all the answers I got back were really positive.

“The guys running the club really impressed me and when you feel like you’re wanted and you can make a change the fire in the belly started burning again.

“I had a chat to the wife, and to my boss obviously, this will be my last coaching stint and I thought this would be a great opportunity to help turn this club around.

“They’ve got good people there, just need a little bit of guidance, I believe I can recruit the right people to the club and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Pedersen was unveiled on Monday night and has called almost every senior player in the 24 hours since.

Peter Akech finished third in the Bowen Medal. Picture: Hamish Blair

The new coach has some exciting young talent to work with if he can keep them at Arnold’s Creek Reserve.

Ruckman Peter Akech finished third in the Bowen Medal this season, while Jon Spry, Jon Ferri, Curtis Schultz and Sam Apineru all impressed.

Pedersen was looking to make a splash on the recruiting market to try and bring a winning culture to the club.

“It won’t take much to turn this club around because there’s some really good players,” he said.

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“They’re very young, I think the oldest bloke is 26, but they’re dying for some success.

“We’ve got some job offers for the right recruits.

“Coming out of COVID there’s quite a few people out of work, so there’s some jobs we can offer and it can help people get on with their lives.

“I spoke to seven blokes last night, guys from all over, and I’ve got another eight interviews this week.

“I might speak to 40 blokes and we might sign eight if we’re lucky but they’ll be individuals of good character and they’ll help build the club’s culture.”