CAM Pedersen says he looked to Giant ruckman Shane Mumford as a source of inspiration for his performance against Essendon at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Pedersen was one of Melbourne’s best in its 38-point win, as he stepped up in the ruck in his first match of the season, playing a strong role in the absence of injured duo Max Gawn (hamstring) and Jake Spencer (shoulder).

Standing at 193cm, Pedersen was up against 201cm Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers.

Although Bellchambers had 33 hit outs to 18, Pedersen had 19 disposals to nine.

The versatile Melbourne tall said the coaching staff asked him to channel the type of competitive and crash-and-bash style Mumford displays so well for GWS.

“My instructions were that if I could look at say a Mumford – and just try and play like he does. [I was asked] to try and get after the ball, lay some body on [body] and make a contest, and when you have the chance, really run the [opposition] ruckman around,” he told Melbourne TV.

“I think I went well, but full credit would be to the midfielders – they were reading his (Bellchambers) hits really well. I think we ended up winning the clearances, which wasn’t from me, but the hard work they (the midfielders) were doing, and all the craft they were putting in during the week.

“It’s good to play a good game, but it was only one game, so I’m looking to next week and bringing the same intensity again.”

Pedersen said his team took control in the second half, when the game was in the balance at half-time. But he also praised the efforts of Melbourne’s coaches and fitness staff in the result.

“It’s been put [back] on the players, after the last three weeks have been very controllable. We lost it ourselves – not the other team taking it off us,” he said.

“We planned really well for this week and it was a credit to the fitness staff and coaches that we’ve been able to implement our game plan, without having a genuine ruck and it worked out well.

“We just started playing our brand and outnumbering, and really hunting them. We started winning the hard ball and that’s almost what we base our game on.”

As for Pedersen’s approach for next week and beyond, the 30-year-old said he was simply determined to keep playing his role.

“Being undersized, you’ve just got to crack in, try and nullify their ruck and then really get busy on the ground, and then hopefully help our mids in the clearances,” he said.