MPNFL: Dean Rice to coach Devon Meadows’ under 17s
AFL premiership player Dean Rice says the opportunity to help a local club in Melbourne’s south east that “wants to progress and is community based’’ convinced him to accept a key coaching role.
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AFL premiership player Dean Rice will help young players transition into senior football after taking on a key coaching role at a south east suburban club.
Rice will coach the under 17s at Devon Meadows, a club he describes as progressive and community-minded.
The former St Kilda and Carlton player said the under 17s job would be a “shared role’’ with a yet-to-be-appointed co-coach.
“It’s an opportunity to give someone an opportunity to enter coaching or improve their coaching and me being there to help, support and mentor,’’ he said.
Rice said it was important to help players take the next step in their football.
“It’s important for clubs to hold on to these kids and make sure they are part of that transition to the senior club,’’ he said.
Rice played 234 games with St Kilda and Carlton, including the 1995 flag with the Blues.
He went on to coach Wonthaggi, Old Melburnians and Berwick and recently he was an AFLW coaching consultant for North Melbourne’s women’s side.
Rice said when Devon Meadows president Barry Parsons asked him to get involved in the club he agreed.
“He just asked me to help him out and I said, ‘yeah, no worries, I’ve got a bit of time to support you, I think you’re a club that wants to progress and is really community based so I’ll support and help you’,’’ Rice said.
“It’s a chance to give something back.’’
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