DESPITE LIVING on the Mornington Peninsula coast close to St Kilda’s training headquarters, Ben McEvoy still classes himself as a country boy.

Originally from the small town of Dederang in north-east Victoria, which has a population of just over 400 people, McEvoy grew up living a humble life on his family’s cattle farm.

When he was drafted to the Saints in 2007, the 200cm ruckman had to make some lifestyle adjustments moving to the big smoke.

Six years on and the 23-year-old has decided he wants the best of both worlds, playing footy on the weekend and living life on the land.

The ruckman leads somewhat of a double life training and playing AFL football for most of the year while also running his farm in the Wimmera.

He recently bought a couple of hundred acres of land not far from Stawell and sowed his first grain crop with the help of his brother-in-law.

"After the first time I came here I loved it and they haven’t been able to keep me away since," McEvoy said.

"There’s no coffee shops or lattes up here, so (my teammates) are constantly taking the mickey out of me!"

McEvoy plans to move back to the farm post footy.