Matt LeRay knew something had to give. At the height of his sporting juggle 12 months ago, he was training with as many as six different sporting teams at the same time - in both the cricket and footy realm. So after captaining South Australia at the U19 Cricket National Championships, LeRay decided to direct his sole focus toward reaching his dream of playing in the AFL. Suddenly, after an encouraging year with Central District and as an All-Australian at the AFL U18 National Championships, the 188cm wingman is within touching distance of hearing his name called next week. The 18-year-old Crows fan models his game on Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson and Hawthorn's South Aussie star Will Day as a tall midfielder, while also showing he can also play as an intercept defender in the back half of this year's SANFL U18 season with the Bulldogs. A keen golfer, LeRay speaks openly on the South Aussie Select podcast about his love for his junior club Golden Grove, where it all began with the guidance of his parents, Darren and Coralie. Completing Year 12 in 2024, LeRay has now finalised the first year of his primary school teaching degree. It will be another platform for him to display his leadership qualities, as he has done while captaining his State in cricket and Central's U18 team in 2025.