Cam Pedersen signs another one-year contract with Melbourne

CAM Pedersen was the last player Melbourne recontracted last year, then was told by the coach he was overweight, but he has fought back to win another contract.

Melbourne’s Cam Pedersen is one of footy’s great survivors. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

MELBOURNE’S great survivor Cam Pedersen has secured another season on the Demons’ list after being the final player recontracted last year.

Pedersen was best-afield in a season-defining game against St Kilda, his two-goal, 26-possession games one of a string of good games.

He has agreed to sign another one-year contract, at 30 content to remain at the club which put faith in him after two years with North Melbourne.

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The Demons had to decide whether to recontract Chris Dawes or Pedersen last year, with the former Roo having played only 16 games in the previous two years.

He was chosen over the Pies premiership forward partly because of his durability and starred in the absence of a recognised Melbourne ruckman early in the year.

Then as Jack Watts was dropped in a symbolic moment last week he helped add potency to an unheralded forward line that rolled St Kilda.

He revealed earlier this year Simon Goodwin had ripped into him about his weight, saying he was a bad teammate.

Cam Pedersen has signed a new one-year contract with the Demons. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

He lost 10kg in five weeks and then embraced his new role when Max Gawn and Jake Spencer went down with injury.

The Demons last week scotched talk Jesse Hogan was interested in a move home, Goodwin saying he was invested in Melbourne’s future.

“Jesse is a Melbourne person, he signed to the club last year and he is absolutely committed to the footy club,’’ he said.

The Herald Sun reported this year both Gawn and speedy half back Jayden Hunt will sign contract extensions despite another year on current deals.

Gawn had a highly incentive based contract for this year so will have missed out on some lucrative clauses because he has missed nine games with injury.

He is happy to be locked away long-term after emerging last year as the premier ruckman in the AFL.

Hunt showcased his explosive speed again on the MCG against St Kilda but used his vision to hit up targets inside 50 rather than attempting long-range shots.

It was another sign of his growing maturity at a time when clubs are chasing half backs with elite speed.

One of those players, Port Adelaide’s Jasper Pittard, will sign a long-term deal with the Power in coming weeks with talks well advanced.

Pittard had been linked to clubs including Essendon and North Melbourne given his pace and raking left foot.

Port Adelaide are also on track to re-sign fellow free agent Jackson Trengove in coming weeks on a new deal, locking away their priority signings.

But it was reported in Adelaide Angus Monfries would not be offered a new deal next year after playing only one game after serving his 12-month ban.