Last Saturday against Essendon, the 24-year-old North Melbourne rookie impressed as a key forward, taking five contested marks and kicking three goals.
The game was just Pedersen’s second in the Roos' forward line - the other was against Geelong in round seven - and he got the chance only when key forward Lachie Hansen was ruled out with concussion.
In the previous two rounds, Pedersen had played as a defender, having come into the team for the injured Daniel Pratt.
And in round one, the 193cm Pedersen had made his AFL debut in the ruck, going up against formidable West Coast duo Dean Cox (203cm) and Nic Naitanui (201cm) after Todd Goldstein was a late withdrawal.
Pederson told the AFL Record this week embracing versatility had helped him reach the AFL and remained his best bet of getting a regular game.
After four seasons playing predominantly as a key forward in the VFL, Pedersen said Box Hill Hawks coach Brendon Bolton told him at the start of 2010 he would be “more employable in the AFL” if he could also play as a key defender.
Pedersen embraced the move and starred for Box Hill in his new role, finally earning a chance in the AFL when North selected him with pick 17 in last year’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
Since joining North, he has been determined to establish himself as a tall who can play either end.
“It is critical for me to get a game that I try to mark myself as a utility,” Pedersen said.
“Obviously, we’ve got an established defence and established attack, but by playing at both ends, I double my chances of getting a game when someone’s injured.”
Pedersen has had to juggle his training time between the Roos’ defensive and forward groups and, unlike most players, has had to learn North’s structures all over the ground.
Not that Pedersen is complaining. A latecomer to football, he was good enough to win junior best and fairest awards at Mooroolbark Football Club in Melbourne’s outer east, but was never invited to train with TAC Cup club Eastern Ranges.
Pedersen thought the VFL would be the pinnacle of his football career.
Now he has joined the growing number of mature-age state-league players making a name for themselves in the AFL.
“A lot of players start late or slip through the cracks,” he said.
“I guess some people develop a bit later and that was definitely me.”
