Ex-AFL Demon and Saint Dean Kent pumped for new challenge with Devon Meadows

Dean Kent talks about life after the AFL and joining MPFNL club Devon Meadows for season 2023.

Dean Kent of the Saints leaves Mitch Robinson of the Lions in his wake. Pic: Michael Klein

He was a Demon, then a Saint and now he’s a Panther.

And Dean Kent couldn’t be happier.

The 29-year-old will play with Devon Meadows in second division of the Mornington Peninsula league this season.

He will reunite with his former St Kilda teammate Paddy Ryder at the Panthers, with their first match this Saturday — against local rivals Pearcedale — at Glover Reserve, surrounded by paddocks, in Devon Meadows.

It will be a world away from the MCG and Marvel Stadium, where Kent played the majority of his 100 AFL games with Melbourne and St Kilda over the past 10 years.

He says he’s relishing the step back to local footy and can’t wait to start the season.

“It’s been really enjoyable,” he said.

“The training is obviously a lot different because you only train two nights a week.

“The weeks fly by. Rather than training six days a week, you’re only doing two, and all of a sudden it’s round one.”

Dean Kent.

Paddy Ryder.

Kent said he was ready to move on to the next chapter of his life.

“I’m pretty happy to change from a professional athlete to just a local footballer and be able to have a bit of a laugh and still enjoy having a kick with 22 blokes,” he said.

“It is different. I lost a bit of enjoyment at professional level for the last 18 months.

“It (going back to local football) was something I was looking forward to personally, to see what the real world was like.

“I’m country through and through, so to go to that elite level and now to strip it right back and have that enjoyment again has been great.”

Devon Meadows coach Ryan Hendy said Kent — nicknamed “Keg’’ — had been embraced by his new Panthers teammates, so much so that he’s been named co-captain for the 2023 season.

“Keg’s done a massive pre season, he’s fit and firing and ready to go,’’ Hendy said.

“He and Nick Battle were named our co captains during the week. He’s been fantastic, Keg, his training standards are fantastic, he’s brought a heap of leadership to the place.’’

Away from footy, Kent is working in sales for a building materials supplier.

“I find myself in Moorabbin a fair bit which is obviously where footy (with St Kilda) was, just cruising around,’’ he said.

“I don’t mind talking to anyone.”

Dean Kent of the Saints last season. Photo by Michael Klein

And with a partner and two young children, Kent has a good life balance.

“Life’s pretty good mate,” he said.

Kent said he had worked hard on his fitness over pre-season, determined to make a good impression at Devon Meadows.

“Going to a local club…I’ve got expectations on myself and my teammates do as well,” he said.

“Making sure I’m doing that bit above to make sure I’m in good stead moving into round one.

“I had plenty of soft tissue injuries in my AFL career so I want to make sure they stay away.”

Kent said he was looking forward to playing against new teams, on different grounds, in the MPFNL.

“In our competition there’s not too many massive ovals, it brings that contested footy in which I pride myself on,” he said.

“The smaller grounds, that real contested, just get it into the forward line type of footy, I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun.”

Four ex-AFL players will be involved in Saturday’s Devon Meadows-Pearcedale clash.

Kent and Ryder will try to inspire the hometown Panthers, while Pearcedale’s side will include Dayne Beams and Ryan Bastinac.

Dean Kent’s AFL career

2013–2018 Melbourne 63 games, 63 goals

2019–2022 St Kilda 37 games, 28 goals

Total: 100 games, 91 goals