![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/01\/DSC_0789_40062.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
His patient approach to player development makes him a logical and in many ways ideal choice as the first senior coach as the Swans look to take the next step in their female football evolution.<\/p>\n
He is under no illusions that the 2026 season will be a work in progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been at least five or six years that we\u2019ve had this goal of having a senior team and we\u2019ve almost got there a few times,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have found it a bit more difficult to build a football team from scratch than a netball team.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting seven, eight or nine has been okay, but getting 20 or more committed, we\u2019ve just fallen short.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this year, for multiple reasons, the graduating girls have hung around Ballarat and we have a good core.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe as a club just want to give them that opportunity to continue to play footy and at the club they love.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pidgeon hailed the tight-knit nature of the playing group as arguably their biggest asset and believed it would hold them in good stead during what he expects will be a steep learning curve for the Swans in 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a few who have been here since under-13s, and there\u2019s been a few premierships along the way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWith that, there\u2019s three or four recruits who have already signed on, so it\u2019s a nice blend with the core group that have come through, some who have jumped on in-between, and some newies as well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe even have an A-grade netballer from the club, who is keen to have a kick again.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are under no illusions \u2013 it\u2019s not going to be easy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are up against some pretty serious and well-credentialed footballers and well-drilled teams.<\/p>\n \u201cBut this year won\u2019t be measured in wins and losses.\u201d<\/p>\n The Swans have openly made known their intentions of wanting to build from within and will steadfastly shy away from targeting players from other BFLW clubs.<\/p>\n That is unless an outside player seeks a transfer on their own volition.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are only cannibalising the competition going after other teams\u2019 players, aren\u2019t you,\u201d Pidgeon said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to build from within and let other teams look after their players.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s an exciting time. For me, it\u2019s great to be back in coaching.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving known some of these girls a long time, it\u2019s funny seeing them drive to training.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are senior footballers now and you can see that they are pumped. It\u2019s been a while in the making, but it\u2019s great to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Ballarat female football coordinator Naomi Irvin said the club jumped at the chance to have Pidgeon back involved and was fortunate to have secured such a passionate and dedicated coach.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been ingrained in the girls football since it began here (at Ballarat), so he knows how it runs and knows the culture we\u2019ve got here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cDean coached many of the players that are going to make up a large proportion of our women\u2019s team, in their first years of football, when they were juniors in the Youth Girls competition.<\/p>\n \u201cHis relationship with the players is very strong and he is a strong supporter of women\u2019s footy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FOR newly appointed Ballarat senior women\u2019s coach Dean Pidgeon, 25 prospective players on the track at Alfredton Recreation Reserve on the opening night of training last week was a sight to behold. Headed towards their first season in the BFLW senior competition, eager and resolute Swans players \u2013 the bulk of them past club juniors […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/01\/DSC_0798_42801.jpg\")