MPNFL: Another ex-AFL Saint joins Devon Meadows

Devon Meadows will have a strong St Kilda flavour in MPNFL Division 2, with a young gun following Paddy Ryder to the Panthers.

Josiah Kyle (right) and Jack Steele at a St Kilda training session. Kyle will line-up with Devon Meadows this year. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Devon Meadows will have a strong St Kilda flavour in 2023.

Having recruited Paddy Ryder and Dean Kent, the Panthers have now added former St Kilda-listed Josiah Kyle.

The speedy and skilful 19-year-old has been training with Devon Meadows and is expected to sign a clearance form on Tuesday.

He played with Doveton last season.

“He hasn’t missed a training session with us,” Devon Meadows coach Ryan Hendy said.

“He wanted to come and play with Paddy Ryder.

“So it’s another good recruit.

“Talking to Paddy Ryder and Dean Kent — they played with him at St Kilda — and they said he’s got that much talent and ability he should still be playing AFL footy.

“He’s in a good head space now and he’s training the house down, so he’s going to be a really good recruit.”

Josiah Kyle playing for Doveton last season.

Josiah Kyle. Pictures: Valeriu Campan

Ryder and Kent have been training strongly and will line-up in Devon Meadows’ two practice matches against Wonthaggi and Tooradin-Dalmore on March 4 and 18 respectively.

“They haven’t missed a session either, they’re as fit as fiddles, doing all the work,” Hendy said of Ryder and Kent.

“They’ve been really good with all the young kids too, getting around them and passing on their knowledge.

“It’s been fantastic the way they’ve bought into the club. They’ve passed my expectations really.”

Hendy said Kent, who played 100 AFL games for Melbourne and St Kilda, would have a midfield role.

“He’s fit,” he said.

“He put a bit of weight on once he retired, he had a month or two off to rest the body after doing so many pre season trainings at the highest level. But he’s really knuckled down the last few months and he’s back at his playing weight, so he’s going to have a big impact on it this year I’d imagine.”

Paddy Ryder.

Dean Kent.

Hendy said Ryder would play up forward and in the ruck.

The 281-game AFL star is considered one of the biggest signings in local football history.

“We’ve got a ruckman Riley Simmons from St Kilda City and he’s learnt so much off Paddy in such a short time.

“They’ll probably swap full forward and in the ruck.”

Devon Meadows made the finals in MPNFL Division 2 last season.

Hendy said the club has had unprecedented numbers at pre season training.

“We had 70 blokes train on Wednesday night,’’ he said.

“We had to send half of them to another ground, it was just too many.

“The footy club reckons in their whole time they’ve never witnessed anything like that. And there were still a few boys not there, so we’re going to have a lot of players to choose from this year which is a good thing.”

As far as departures go, star forward Brandon White has applied for a clearance to Beaconsfield.

“Brandon is the only one that probably won’t be playing with us at this stage,” Hendy said.

“It’s not completely done yet but it’s looking that way. He’s the only one we’ve lost off our list and I think we’ve got 14 potential senior recruits to the club this year.

“We’re going to be a hell of a lot stronger, we’ll be a 10 to 15 goal better side this year if all goes to plan.

“Hopefully everyone buys in.”