By David Nagel
To say that Cameron Pedersen – now a dual Breheny Medallist – is invested in the club culture and local community of Phillip Island would be a massive understatement.
The former North Melbourne and Melbourne tall made it back-to-back West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) awards with a three-vote victory over his Bulldogs captain Jaymie Youle and Cora Lynn full forward Nathan Gardiner on Thursday night.
Pedersen polled 16 votes – from just 10 games played – a number he wished his captain had finished on as well.
“One of the first things I did after the count was call Youley and tell him I would have been really happy if we had come a draw, that would have made it even more special,” Pedersen said, shortly after the count.
“Obviously it’s nice to get the individual awards, but for us, and there are no guarantees, but we were looking pretty good for another flag. It would have been nice to have the opportunity for team success…that’s what we play for.
“But has everyone has said through Covid…it is what it is.”
Pedersen and his wife Sarah had a decision to make at the end of 2018.
Would the talented tall continue to play at an elite level with Casey Demons or would he commit himself fully to community football?
Thankfully, for the Phillip Island Football Netball Club and the WGFNC in general, Pedersen chose the latter.
“I could have played at Casey in the VFL, because I wasn’t over the hill, but I had three kids at that point and I really wanted to invest in the local community,” he said.
“I teach at Newhaven College, we live in Cowes, and we plan on being around for a long time. We chose to do that and enjoy the family environment that you wouldn’t get so much at VFL level.”
The Pedersen tribe has since grown to four with latest addition Sophie joining her siblings Charlee, Ruby and Lucy.
But you get the feeling that the Pedersen family has grown much, much bigger than that – courtesy of his new football home.
“We get the accolades as players but there are some real heroes at local footy and netball clubs that I’ve come to appreciate,” Pedersen explained.
“That’s what I’ve loved most about playing at Phillip Island. Not just the buy in from the players of all levels and any age group, but from the off-field people as well.
“It’s not just the playing group. Chris Ross (president) and Scott Huther (football department) do so much work, and we all know the story of Beau Vernon and what he does, but I’ve been surprised at how few people do so much work at local clubs.
“There seems to be a core group that gives so much to the club and they only do it because they love it.
“We have a no ego policy at the club and it doesn’t matter if you’re playing with a bloke who is 40, or a kid who is 16, there are some common traits that you want out of a footballer and it’s just great to see that come together at community level.
“It’s a great club, with great people, and I love myself and my family being a part of it.”
Pedersen has quickly become the undisputed best player in the WGFNC, but can see some personal growth that can help him become even better.
That’s a frightening proposition for the other 11 teams in the competition.
“I wasn’t my best year, I played alright, and missed a game that was originally scheduled as a bye, but I enjoyed the year,” he said.
“And even though I’m 34 I’ve still got things I can work on to get better.
“We’ve got some good ruckman coming through, so I might spend a bit more time up forward next year, who knows, there’s always room for improvement and the opportunity to get better that’s for sure.
“Even though I’m no spring chicken I like to do full training and extras because I get the best out of myself that way. I’m looking forward to knuckling down and preparing for hopefully a full season next year.
“I need the work. I say I’m like a Clydesdale horse, the more work I do the better,” he said
The newly-crowned dual Breheny Medallist said he has remained upbeat about his football during the Covid-lockdown, but missed opportunities and the uncertainty surrounding Covid had certainly had an impact.
“There is a sense of a missed opportunity and personally it was very frustrating to be asked if we would like to play, and always say yes, but then be told by the league that it wasn’t financially viable to do so,” he said.
“We were all committed to play for free…so to be told that was very frustrating for me personally.
“We’re all footballers and we just want to play and be around our mates.
“I’m always motivated, because I like to win, but not knowing was the hardest part.
“Are we playing, are we not playing, that type of thing was hard to get used to. It was nice to start the season on time, which was better than 2020, but the stop start nature in the end was challenging.”
Pedersen took the opportunity to thank a few people at the club for their dedication and hard work.
“To Chris Ross, the president, just for the amount of work he does and for looking after everyone, and Scott Huther in the football department, he does a power of work behind the scenes as well,” Pedersen said.
“The coaches I work with, obviously the senior coach Beau Vernon. Andy Walton, Brent Clinnick, we all work together and the investment they put into the players is enormous.
“And thank you to all the players at Phillip Island, particularly Jaymie Youle and Mark Griffin, we call ourselves the three amigos and spend a lot of time together.
“Youley invests in himself, and also the younger players at the club and gives them so much time and guidance.
“He’s captain as well and puts his head over the footy and leads by example. Brendan Kimber was our captain before that and you can’t get two better people to show the young players how to attack the footy and play the game the right way.”
And Pedersen signed off by acknowledging he and the Bulldogs had some unfinished business to deal with in 2022.
“I’m not big for the individual awards, I appreciate them, but for me it’s about getting a full pre-season in and getting ready to hopefully lift up the cup again next year,” he said.
“That’s the goal, and setting the club up for sustained success across a long period of time and not peaking and then falling away.”
With Cameron Pedersen invested…the Doggies won’t be falling away in a hurry!
