PETE Corredig knows he’s only got a few more games in navy blue.
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A job, his first in the medical profession, will lure the Warrnambool key defender back to Melbourne next year.
He will start work at Northern Hospital in January after two years of on-the-job experience in south-west Victoria.
Corredig, 27, hopes to leave the region not only with a wealth of medical knowledge, but a second Hampden league premiership medallion.
The former Ocean Grove forward arrived at Reid Oval in 2013, using football as an outlet from his study commitments. He finished the season with his first senior premiership medallion.
Now Corredig wants to play a key role in another Blues’ flag tilt before he relocates.
The ladder-leading Blues are warm favourites to make it a hat-trick of flags and have the minor premiership in their keeping with matches against Port Fairy and Hamilton Kangaroos to round out the home-and-away season.
“I was getting to the point where I thought I’d never make a grand final so last year was a bit of a dream come true for me,” Corredig said of the Blues’ triumph over Koroit.
“I don’t know if it’s sunk in what last year’s win meant.
“Being there an extra year you have stronger relationships with the coaches and everyone at the club.”
Warrnambool’s much-vaunted forward line — Corredig “certainly wouldn’t want to play on any of our forwards” — often takes the limelight away from its sturdy defence.
Corredig has worked alongside one-time ruckman Rob Bright, whose found a niche at full-back, Tim O’Keeffe, Sam Wilson, Angus Chirnside and the zippy Brad Bull this season with great effect.
“I have always loved playing down back because of that reason. You end up being with the same five or six blokes and you do form your own unit within the team and cover for each other,” he said.
Corredig said Bright had filled Will Jacobs’ role in defence with aplomb.
Jacobs moved to Queensland at the end of the 2013 season, leaving a hole in the Blues’ back six.
“He is tall, quick and agile as well,” Corredig said of Bright.
“It helps free Tim O’Keeffe up as well. Speed is not my forte so it saves me having to chase someone quicker.”
Corredig wants to play in Melbourne next year. At what level and where remains up in the air.
He’s placed a strong focus on training during his time under Blues coach Scott Carter but knows he won’t have that same luxury next year when he jumps into his new career.
“I’d love to play and I hope I can,” Corredig said.
“I don’t think I will play anywhere near as seriously as now.”
Off the field, Corredig has enjoyed his time in the south-west.
He said the opportunity to work at various hospitals, most predominantly South West Healthcare, gave him the ideal preparation.
“I have loved being down at the hospital,” he said.
“The teaching is not what I had expected.
“Being a smaller hospital, you form relationships with consultants and nurses.
“I was expecting to be a wallflower or a shadow around the hospital but they really get you involved and if they’re short you help in the surgery or in the wards, so it’s been really involved.”