IF YOU thought the footballing world was beginning to move past the fabled ‘basketball background’, think again. Kale Matthews-Hampton is the latest prospect on said production line, currently in the midst of his first full preseason having made the decision to put a promising basketball career behind him.

The 187cm defender was part of Sturt’s Under 18 premiership last year, and was the only bottom-ager to play a game for last year’s title-winning state side. With a narrowed focus this year, he has his heart set on more team success across all levels, which will hopefully push him towards higher honours.

We sat down for an interview with Matthews-Hampton at the recent South Australian preseason testing combine.

>> State in Focus: 2026 South Australia Under 18s

Q&A

Q: Kale, can you walk me through your footballing journey so far?

KMH: I’ve always kind of been more of a basketballer. Then I went out to Strathalbyn and played with a couple mates from school. That was just a bit of fun, then I started really enjoying it and started taking a bit more seriously. I got a trial out at Sturt in bottom-age 16s and never really looked back from there. I’ve been balancing footy and basketball a bit, but now I’ve kind of chosen the path I want to go down, which is footy. That’s what I want to try to pursue.

Q: How far did you get with your basketball, and what was behind the decision to give it up?

KMH: I got into an Australian squad, went over and trialled in October. I didn’t make the team, but I felt before then that my heart was with footy and that I probably didn’t put as much effort into the lead up of it as I really could have, or what I would’ve liked to looking back on it. But I kind of had my heart and mind set on footy, so I got to the level and I went over there, wanted to just kind of see where I was at and see if it was something I wanted to give a one last crack at. I was bit uming and ahing and I knew I was really enjoying my footy, so I thought it was a no brainer to go with what I enjoyed instead of what I wasn’t sure about.

Q: You were the only bottom-ager to play in last year’s title-winning state team, what was that experience like?

KMH: That was a weird experience. I wasn’t part of the squad originally. I got called up late due to lots of injuries and was fortunate enough to play games. I knew it was more of an experience for me. I knew with a lot of the top-agers it was their year to go shine, and I kind of just wanted to go in and do what I could to help the team win. That’s kind of where my mindset is with footy, to do whatever I can to help the team win. It’s not necessarily all about stats and stuff like that. It’s about winning, and that’s kind of what I’ve always been about with basketball and footy.

Q: You played in Sturt’s flag side as well, so between that and the state squad, what was it like rubbing shoulders with some of the guys who ended up getting drafted?

KMH: I matched up on a few every now and then, so I felt that coming out of the state games I was at [their] level and was able to compete with them and hold my own very well. Now looking at them getting drafted, I feel like I have the tools I need with the state program and everyone around me that can try and push me towards the same goal that they got to.

Q: Is there an opponent who gave you the hardest time?

KMH: Mitch Marsh gave us a bit of grief. He always kind of sat out behind me a little bit when I played a bit higher and just climbed over the top of me. Then playing [against] the Eagles in the prelim, Jack Cook gave us a bit of strife and I knew he would. He was a running forward-mid and I kind of had to stop that a bit which was a bit of a hard task at times. They had a couple of good forwards with Peucker, so it was more combos because the position I played wasn’t necessarily straight one-on-ones.

Q: You and the Sturt defenders racked up possessions last year, what kind of role do you think you’ll play in 2026?

KMH: I’m not too sure yet. It depends on the matchup. We played West early in the year and I kind of played my loose role and got a lot of the footy. Then they came back at us in the first semi and just completely shut me down, or shut the free down which we didn’t expect. Then we had to strategize against them to send me a bit more into the midfield, so it kind of goes game by game and depends how teams play it. I assume this season will be similar, so I might play a couple different roles – sitting a bit deeper and playing more of an intercept role, pushing higher into the contest, or playing a loose floating role to go help get a mismatch or outnumber.

Q: Switching tact to the year ahead, how has your preseason been so far?

KMH: No setbacks, touch wood, so doing really well. It was good to have my first actual full footy preseason with no interruptions. I was out there for every training, completed everything. I was really proud of how I was able to keep pursuing it and get through it without missing a session because something else popped up.

Q: What are some of your strengths, and then the areas you’re still looking to improve on?

KMH: I think my strengths [are] my kicking and my aerial. A year or two ago my kicking wasn’t my strength and I worked on it last preseason a lot with Heath Younie and ‘Bangers’ (Tony Bamford). Now I find it to be one of my strengths. I think a working point is more of my contested ball winning, and I think that depends on what role I play with the team as well. Some games I’ll be a bit more in the contest and get more contested ball, and sometimes, I’ll probably get a lot more uncontested ball… getting into the pack and doing a bit more of the grunt work would be nice as a top-ager.

Q: Do you watch a lot of football?

KMH: Yeah, I do… I support the Swans, so watch a bit of Dane Rampe and Nick Blakey. How Dane Rampe is able to defend smalls and talls. I feel like I’ve got decent size and speed to be able to do that. Then with Nick Blakey, how he runs off half-back and is able to use his explosive speed and kick to set up the forward line.

Q: What are some of the goals you have set out to achieve this year?

KMH: My number one goal is winning. I want to win another flag with Sturt and school (Prince Alfred College). Then state champs again. That was a memory I’ll never forget being a bottom-ager, coming into a really successful and talented team. This year is my top-age chance so I want to go in and keep the winning culture alive in SA go and try to push myself towards AFL as well as I can.

Q: Lastly, is there a Sturt or state teammate you think we should look out for to have a big year?

KMH: At state, I reckon Archie Van Dyk, is in for a big year. Then at Sturt, I reckon Jack Nelson. He’s been putting in the work in the off-season. He didn’t make the state squad and I reckon he probably took that a bit hard, so he went out and has had a really awesome preseason.

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