DECLAN KEILTY plays his 100^th senior game for Moe at Sale Round 9.

One of the best intercept defenders in the competition, Keilty has been a standout performer for the Lions. His career has essentially had four iterations: Gippsland Power/Moe, VFL/AFL, Moe playing-coach and now Moe senior leader.

Declan played a number of senior games for Moe as a youngster when available from Gippsland Power, before grinding out a lengthy career in VFL years. He was taken in the 2016 rookie draft by Melbourne, and went on to play at the highest level.

Returning to Moe in 2021, he won the senior best-and-fairest that year, and then took the reigns as senior coach. Moe made two preliminary finals in his three years as coach.

His on-field performances have been exceptional, especially in desperation defence. A goal-saving tackle in the 2023 semi-final is still spoken about as one of the greatest individual acts ever seen. Declan’s consistency won him a place in the club’s most recent team of the decade, and he was named in the league’s team of the year every season from 2022 to 2024.

Off the field, he has been a leading light in many aspects. He now dedicates his time to helping the next crop of players, assisting with the under 18s.

Most tellingly, he has been the recipient of three of the last four Ian Jennings Memorials, awarded to the player who displays the most excellence on and off field.