Matthew Peake.
SOUTH Warrnambool coach Matthew Peake is playing on.
Peake, who hinted he might hang up the boots, has revealed he will continue wearing the Roosters’ colours for as long as he can.
“At this stage I’m going to play,” Peake said.
“It’s more out of necessity than anything.”
Peake said the Roosters, who had lost several stars, including 2011 premiership co-captain Jarrod Thompson, last season’s co-captain Joe Dalton and 2012 best and fairest winner James Hussey, were likely to be a young side.
He said his experience on-field would be needed.
“If I’m just scraping a game then I will move on but as long as I can offer something (I will play),” Peake said.
“Age is just a number.”
The naturally-fit Peake, who can play in the midfield, assumed a linking role from half-back last season before injuries wore him down late in the campaign.
He missed the club’s round 18 match when the Roosters needed to beat second-placed Camperdown to make the finals.
Peake will have a vastly different coaching panel this season, with 2011 premiership player and former Richmond rookie Brad Miller his assistant.
Former South players Jeremy Mitchem and Peter Fleming will assume bench coaching duties, while Peake and Miller fulfil their on-field roles.
Peake said the Roosters were excited with the return of North Ballarat Roosters midfielder Zacc Struth and 2011 premiership player Nick Thompson, who travelled overseas last year and didn’t play a game.
With first-choice ruckman Mick Havlin relocating out of the region for work, the Roosters have signed teenage ruckman Mitch Hodson from Morwell.