VAFA 2021: New PEGS coach David Calthorpe discusses his return

New PEGS coach and former AFL midfielder David Calthorpe discusses his return to the VAFA club and his desire for premiership success.

New PEGS coach David Calthorpe on the burst during his days at Essendon.

David Calthorpe experienced the ultimate as an AFL player with Essendon in 1993.

But a premiership has eluded the former midfielder at local level.

A flag, however, is not the only measure of success for Calthorpe as he returns to coach Victorian Amateur Football Association outfit PEGS in 2021.

The 47-year-old steered the club to a preliminary final berth in 2005 and has since held the top job at East Burwood, Diamond Creek and Bulleen Templestowe.

The seasoned mentor spent 2017-2019 at VAFA powerhouse St Kevin’s in various roles, with the club claiming two premierships during that period, while Calthorpe also held an assistant coaching role at Greenvale in 2016.

David Calthorpe calls the shots.

Determined to repay PEGS’ faith, Calthorpe said there was a sense of “unfinished business” after his first stint lasted only one year as he secured a position at a higher level.

But he has never been tempted to neglect developing players in the pursuit of silverware.

In 2018, when he was head of development, St Kevin’s fielded 10 new faces in its grand final team and completed back to back.

In 2005, PEGS players earned opportunities in the VFL ranks under Calthorpe’s guidance.

“I’d like to, but it’s not what drives me,” Calthorpe said when asked if he was desperate to be a premiership coach.

“I’m 47 years of age now and I’ve changed as a coach. I’m not as highly strung and it’s not the be-all and end-all for me.

“My philosophy has always been that if I’ve got a guy who’s a good player and has got potential, I want him playing the highest level he can.

“A lot of clubs don’t like you doing that, but that’s how footy should be.

“I’ll be no different at PEGS. We’ve got a couple of young blokes training at Northern Bullants, and I’m hoping I can help them in their development until they’re ready to compete at that level.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care about it because that’s part of the reason of going back to PEGS.

“But (PEGS veteran) Daniel Flaherty messaged me saying he’s never won one. It’s probably his last year of footy, I think he’s 37 years of age, and he’s eager to win a flag. He went to work in Perth for a while and missed the success they had a few years ago.”

PEGS will compete in Division 1 this season after being relegated from Premier C in 2019.

It completed a famous grand final victory in the fourth tier four years ago, retrieving a 57-point deficit to knock off St Mary’s Salesian.

Calthorpe, who has replaced Dane Pound at the helm, said he was looking beyond this season and prioritised improving the club’s depth.

“There’s a changing of the guard at PEGS to a certain degree. I think we’ll be more than competitive in D1, but we’ve also got to look at building the club and the playing group to find out what our ceiling is in the VAFA. How high do you want to go?” he said.

“At the same time, you’ve got to be realistic about things.

“We’re going to be striving for the ultimate success (in 2021), but at the same time, there’s going to be one eye on building the playing group for sustained success through the grades and also building the relationship with the school.”

Calthorpe said PEGS was “looking for some new ideas” and “craving a fresh face” after Pound stepped down in October following four seasons in charge.

“Dane Pound did a tremendous job, and there comes a time with anyone’s coaching where the club needs a different voice,” he said.

“I think now’s that time.

“Whether it was me or not, I think the group’s ready to accept someone else.”