{"id":214600,"date":"2026-05-12T19:13:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T09:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=214600"},"modified":"2026-05-12T19:13:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T09:13:22","slug":"aami-talent-league-player-focus-jack-leys-eagles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/05\/12\/aami-talent-league-player-focus-jack-leys-eagles\/","title":{"rendered":"AAMI Talent League Player Focus: Jack Leys (Eagles)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RICHMOND father-son prospect Jack Leys<\/a> has been in consistent form at AAMI Talent League level, and led Woodville-West Torrens to an upset win over Glenelg in Round 7. The Eagles took advantage of the Bays’ inaccuracy to claim a 17-point win on the road, rallying with nine goals to three after half-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leys was a permanent fixture out on the wing, proving instrumental to his side’s ball movement with 24 disposals and two clutch goals. It was his fifth haul of over 20 touches in six appearances this season, providing great confidence ahead of potential action at the Under 18 National Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The son of 110-game former Tiger Brian<\/em><\/strong>, Leys has already graduated high school and has taken up a job as he navigates his top-age year. In his own words, he came back “stronger, fitter and faster” this preseason having been in the state program. He also spent a week in Melbourne training with Richmond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We put Leys’ performance under the Player Focus microscope.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"SouthSouth Australia<\/a>, \"Woodville-WestWoodville-West Torrens<\/a>Wing<\/span><\/div>

Jack Leys<\/h4>

Height: <\/span>182cm<\/p>

Weight: <\/span> - <\/p>

DOB: <\/span>11-05-2008<\/p><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

SEASON AVERAGES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 AAMI Talent League (6 games):<\/strong>
<\/em>23.8 disposals, 6.5 marks, 1.7 tackles, 4.2 inside 50s, 2.2 rebound 50s, 0.7 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FROM THE EXPERTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Jack is in his second State pathway program, having been involved at U16 State level back in 2024. He is also in the Richmond FC\u2019s NGA under the father-son rule. Jack is the type of player who likes to get the ball moving forward for his team by taking the opposition on with his legs. He has played both as a winger and high forward over the past season and has completed our program training with the midfield group. We have exposed him to more inside, contested ball scenarios to help him improve his contest method and decision-making with ball.” – SA Under 18 coach Tony Bamford<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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PLAYER FOCUS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2026 AAMI Talent League: Round 7
Glenelg 8.20 (68) def. by Woodville-West Torrens 12.13 (85)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#7 <\/strong>Jack Leys<\/a> (Woodville-West Torrens)
Stats:<\/strong> 24 disposals, 7 marks, 1 tackle, 6 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 2 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIRST QUARTER:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting on the outer wing next to state teammate Harvey Croker<\/strong>, Leys took a little time to find his opportunities. Glenelg dominated the opening 15 minutes without necessarily gaining reward on the scoreboard, meaning much of Leys\u2019 work was done in the second half of the term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His best moments saw him facilitate the Eagles\u2019 fast transitional ball movement, tracking back to be an outlet from defensive 50 before launching forward. He shifted gears nicely on one instance to latch onto a handball receive, take a running bounce and boot the ball long inside forward 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with that end-to-end passage, Leys proved he could fold in on the contest when required, but tended to hold his width. He tracked well up and down the line, although could perhaps have been a little tighter to cover his direct opponent at stoppages, allowing them to drift forward at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECOND QUARTER:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now with Glenelg skipper Kobe Gibson<\/strong> for company, Leys continued his transitional work on the wing and had a strong presence on the outside. He looked to run and chain together possessions by hand, bringing teammates into the game with productive combination play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Leys sometimes invited pressure with that method, he timed his runs well and offered support as the Eagles won the ball at stoppage or on turnover. He tended to take up a conservative position on the defensive side, but was capable of getting active with his speed in the attacking phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All up, Leys brought his tally up to 13 disposals at half time and had done plenty of work by hand. That was a product of his want to link-up in transition, although he showed on a couple of occasions that he could delivery punchy kicks on the way forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leys spent a week training with Richmond in preseason | Image Credit: via Richmond Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

THIRD QUARTER:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leys began to get a little more adventurous in the third term as Woodville-West Torrens capitalised on the Bays\u2019 inaccuracy and ill-discipline, taking a 16-point lead into three-quarter time. It culminated in his soccer goal on the siren, chasing a ball over the back and simply wanting it more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That moment came on the back of more aggressive runs inside forward 50, making his opponent pay when the Eagles won the ball out of the middle. Leys also continued to hold width, not getting sucked into the contest even when his opponent ventured in to win the ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As he had been a couple of times in the opening half, Leys was a moving target at the kick-ins and tracked back to help facilitate fast ball movement on the rebound. On the occasion where he couldn\u2019t take ground, he had no problem stopping and propping before dishing off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOURTH QUARTER:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leys helped ice the game for Woodville-West Torrens after absorbing plenty of pressure, brought on by a sudden downpour and Glenelg\u2019s several scoring shots. He snuck free inside 50 to mark uncontested and slot his second goal, creating a decisive buffer against the run of play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a couple of his kicks on the outer side didn\u2019t quite hit his leading targets, Leys was able to swoop on loose balls and get his side moving forward. He crucially mopped up in defensive 50 late on, showing great composure to step an opponent and bring the ball down the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leys\u2019 agility was on show with an \u2018almost\u2019 moment as the ball spilled off hands inside 50, seeing him gather and cut through traffic to get a checkside shot away, albeit for just a point. In any case, he stood up when the whips were cracking to help deliver a bounceback win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CLOSING THOUGHTS…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There a no guarantees as far as club-tied prospects go and Leys will be fully aware of that – especially after the precedence set with Louis Kellaway<\/strong> last year. But every case is different and there are plenty of traits to work with for this youngster. Leys is clean at ground level and has a terrific burst of speed, able to cut through congestion or set sail on the outside. Modelling his game off traits shared by Chad Warner <\/strong>and Ollie Dempsey<\/strong>, the South Australian has set himself up for a solid National Champs where he can hope to push his case by impressing in state colours. At this stage, he looms as a handy late option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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