NEWLY appointed Melton South football coach Mark Pedersen knows his side has a mountain to climb to be competitive again – and that is what excites him most.
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Pedersen, who signed with the Panthers shortly after committing to stay with Coburg in the VFL as assistant coach, remains realistic but positive about his side’s chances heading into the 2015 Ballarat Football League season.
Melton South finished second-last on the ladder in 2014 with just two wins.
“We’re not at the stage where we are vying to win a premiership, I know that,” Pedersen said.
“I know we’re coming from a long way back, but that’s the challenge I enjoy.
“Anybody can come in and coach a good side, but it’s not as easy to turn a side around ... that’s what I’m excited about.”
Pedersen was the end result of months of searching for a coach by Melton South.
He arrives at the club after it had already lost captain Matthew Sullivan and a number of high-profile players.
Choosing to focus on development from within rather than bringing a swag of unknown players to the club, Pedersen acknowledged there would have to be some experienced recruits to the club to complement the promising young brigade.
The Panthers’ under-18.5s made the finals last year and reached the grand final in 2013.
“We haven’t done a lot of recruiting to this point but we have our eyes on a few guys,” Pedersen said.
“The kids we have at the club know how to play footy. We just have to learn how to get the best of them and teach them how to get the best out of themselves.”
Pedersen paid homage to his assistant coaching panel, headed by former AFL player and 1998 Henderson Medal winner Darren Stanley and Panthers favourite son Shane Geddes.
“The coaches we have are good enough to get a head coaching gig anywhere,” Pedersen said.
The Panthers’ season gets under way at home against arch rival Melton under lights on April 18.
