MPFNL Division 2: Devon Meadows retains star, adds recruits
Devon Meadows will be rock-hard fit and younger in the MPFNL in 2025, with a key player remaining after flirting with the idea of playing VFL.
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A boost for Devon Meadows ahead of the 2025 season, with star player Joel Hillis deciding against a move to the VFL.
After winning club and league best and fairests last year, Hillis trained with Casey Demons in the pre-season until he joined Waratah in the Northern Territory league.
He played six games up in Darwin, including a final last month, and will now focus on having another big season with the Panthers in the Mornington Peninsula league’s Division 2.
Devon Meadows will be rock-hard fit and young in ‘25 after a fitness-focused pre-season.
The club hired a local gym to ramp up fitness levels over summer and the players are in good shape.
“We’ve spent a bit of money in other departments to get that extra 10 percent,” Devon Meadows president Chris Langley said.
“We did a package through IFP which do all our fitness and rehab.”
Devon Meadows has also bolstered its coaching set up, with Dean Kent joining Ryan Hendy in a co-coaching partnership.
“It’s been a bit of a breath of fresh air for the players,’’ Langley said of the Hendy-Kent combination.
Former Melbourne and St Kilda player Kent has recovered from a serious hamstring injury sustained in Round 16 last season and is pushing to play in the club’s last practice match and then in the season-opener against Pearcedale on April 5.
Devon Meadows has landed a couple of late recruits: Langwarrin youngster Levi Chirico and Warragul’s Chris Raso.
Langley said the club was a chance to secure another couple of recruits in the coming weeks.
“We’re definitely going to be a different side, we’ll be heaps younger,’’ he said.
Devon Meadows has played finals in the past three seasons.
Kent, who played 100 AFL matches, is looking forward to working with Hendy to take the club to its first premiership.
“I’ll just bring my experience, different ideas and a different voice and see where that takes us,” he said.
“I’m good mates with ‘Span’ (Hendy) and we’ve got some great ideas.
“He’s got the club back to the surface and now it’s time to take that next step.
“We’ll be honest with each other and bounce ideas off each other.”
Kent played under six coaches during his AFL career — Mark Neeld, Neil Craig, Paul Roos, Simon Goodwin, Alan Richardson and Brett Ratten.
“Hopefully I can take some learnings off those guys and see where that takes me as a coach,” he said.
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