Football
11 September, 2024
HDFNL GF Preview: Pekin treating grand final like it's his last
From the under-13s at Noradjuha Quantong to seniors at Harrow Balmoral, Nick Pekin has played in 15 premierships, winning ten, and the 34-year-old is treating his 16th like his last, this Saturday in the Horsham District Football Netball League.
"Retirement is not around the corner, and it's a bit of a cliche, but grand finals don't come around too often. I am fortunate to have played in a few and won a few," Pekin said.
"I will treat this one like it's my last and give it everything I have."
Nick Pekin is the most experienced grand final player on the team and a match-winner. Two weeks ago, in the second quarter against the Swifts, he kicked four goals against the wind, which blew the game open and was instrumental in setting up the win.
In 2024, he relished mentoring some of the team's young players and said that their two weeks off over the last four weeks would help them rather than hinder them.
"Mentoring and getting the next generation through, and to have that success, has been great," Pekin said.
"The kids are coming along in leaps and bounds and are a talented group, which is great to see.
"We are a confident side, and even though we haven't been playing every week, we still do the required amount of work, and we older guys are not going any younger, so we need these weeks off."
"We are ready and will come out firing."
Pekin gives a lot of advice to the younger boys ahead of the grand final and says it's about mindset.
"Finals is a mindset thing where you have to switch on and stay switched on and don't let any conditions upset you, and roll with it."