Rising Talent in the AAMI Talent League
Jack Leys, a father-son prospect from Richmond, has made a significant impact in the 2026 season with Woodville-West Torrens in the AAMI Talent League. Standing at 182cm, Leys has averaged an impressive 24 disposals per game through six matches this year. His strong performance has earned him a spot in South Australia’s squad for the Under-18s National Championships, which are set to begin on June 13.
Leys’ ability to perform one-on-one and his strength in contests have been highlighted by his coach, Shane Reardon, who praised his leg drive and clean ball handling. “He’s good one-on-one and is strong on the contest and one of the reasons for that is he drives his legs. He’s clean with his ball handling,” Reardon said.
Leys’ form has not gone unnoticed by AFL recruiters, but there is always a caution about over-indexing the performances of South Australian players before the Under-18s National Championships. The state’s talent pathways competition is often seen as less competitive than Victoria’s, so it’s important to view these early performances in context.
One of Leys’ standout performances came in a 24-disposal, two-goal game against Glenelg last weekend. This game demonstrated his potential as a dangerous forward half threat and his willingness to contribute defensively. “The wing allows him to use his speed. He’s been challenging himself to get more offensive,” Reardon added.
Leys, the son of Brian Leys who played 110 games for Richmond between 1988 and 1994, has grown up as a midfielder but has been moved to the wing this year to showcase his running power and athletic base. “His game is still evolving but I think the wing is his spot because he can cover the ground and get back into the defensive 50. The point post to point post running is something he’s prepared to do. He holds his width well which was a challenge early because he is used to playing midfield but he has adjusted well and quickly. He has found a lot of the footy too, when the wing can be a bit barren.”
Other Notable Prospects
The Eagles have two other players in the South Australian squad: Mitch Harris and Blake Karpany.
Mitch Harris has quietly started generating AFL Draft interest in recent weeks. After suffering a concussion in Round 1, he returned with a remarkable 12 intercept marks in Round 4. Since then, he has been a reliable defender at both AAMI Talent League and school level. “He makes good decisions on when to go for his marks and when to spoil. Often young defenders just want to mark but he works out when to mark and spoil and he doesn’t get outmarked very often. His decision-making is strong and he’s worked really hard through the (state) academy and with us to be more damaging on his ball use,” Reardon said.
Blake Karpany, hailing from the Yorke Peninsula, commutes more than two hours each way to attend training. Added to the Eagles’ list midway through last year following impressive form at association level, his potency in five games under Reardon last year was enough to convince South Australian selectors to add him to the State Academy in summer. Training at that level has accelerated the development of the 174cm small forward.
“He’s an attacking small forward who knows where the goals are and has worked hard on chasing and pressuring and done a good job. He’s improving his footy every week,” Reardon said.
Conclusion
With several promising talents emerging in the AAMI Talent League, the future of Australian football looks bright. Jack Leys, Mitch Harris, and Blake Karpany are just a few of the players making waves this season, and their performances could have a significant impact on the AFL Draft. As the Under-18s National Championships approach, all eyes will be on these young athletes to see if they can maintain their momentum and make a lasting impression on AFL recruiters.
