South Aussie Select

Woodville-West Torrens' Imogen Trengove is a natural-born leader and all-round athlete.

Growing up in the country, Trengove played almost every sport under the sun, but the decision to give footy a go four years ago has well and truly paid off.

It was a massive 2025 campaign for the 18-year-old as she captained the SA U18 girls' side, was selected in the U18 All-Australian team and won the 2025 SANFLW Powerade Breakthrough Player Award.

On this episode of South Aussie Select, Trengove delves into growing up on the Yorke Peninsula, her ambitions to study medicine at university, and how she decided to pursue football ahead of other sports including tennis.

The countdown to the 2025 Telstra AFLW Draft is well and truly on.

In this episode of South Aussie Select, SANFL Talent Manager – Female Programs, Robbie Neill, and SANFL Talent Coordinator – Female Programs, Bek McMahon, provide an insight into South Australia’s draft prospects for 2025.

The duo reflects on the 2025 Marsh U18 Girls National Championships, the value of strong leaders within the playing group and gives a deep dive into some of SA’s best hopes for the AFLW Draft.

Neill and McMahon also chat about the new SANFL High Performance Centre and how the new state-of-the-art facility will benefit the SANFL underage programs.

Seven first-round picks and 14 selections overall. 

It was a massive 2025 AFL Draft haul from a SANFL perspective as a record was set for most first-round choices from South Australia.

And for the last time this year, SA U18 coach Tony Bamford provides great insight into the Croweaters now training with their clubs at elite level.

Speaking on South Aussie Select, Bamford said Sam Cumming (Richmond) and Dyson Sharp (Essendon) would have excellent opportunities to thrive in their respective midfield units.

He was chuffed that three Bulldogs - Cameron Nairn, Aidan Schubert and Matt LeRay - all landed at Hawthorn, hinting that AFL clubs recruiting multiple players from the same club could become more common in future.

Adelaide fans will be eager to hear of his thoughts on Mitchell Marsh's fit with the Crows, likening his initial link up role to that of former Crow Tom Lynch, such is his impressive aerobic capacity.

He offers sage advice to Swans draftee Jevan Phillipou while hailing the standard of the Hostplus SANFL League in having three classy mature-agers - Latrelle Pickett (Melbourne), Billy Cootee (Sydney) and Angus Anderson (Collingwood) - selected.

Bamford also provides a look forward to the crop of 2026, giving listeners an idea of the players to watch next year including Dougie Cochrane, Kodah Edwards, Archie Van Dyk, Ethan Herbert and Gabe Patterson.

Could we see a late bolter suddenly becoming the first South Australian selected at the 2025 AFL Draft?

Now is the time to get the South Australian late mail with less than 48 hours remaining until the highly-anticipated roll call of the nation's best talent in Melbourne.

On the latest edition of South Aussie Select, The Advertiser’s Andrew Capel discusses the prospect of North Adelaide's Sam Cumming being the first Croweater taken, potentially by Richmond.

SA U18 captain and Larke Medallist, Dyson Sharp, has widely been thought of as the first SA player to have his name called, with the expectation he slips no lower than Essendon's choices inside the top 10.

Capel also provides excellent insight into this year’s Croweater crop, listing those who could be available for the Crows' first selection at No.16 and Port's opening call at No.49.

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.

Sam Cumming certainly wasn't satisfied. 

North Adelaide's tough teenager displayed plenty of promise in his Hostplus SANFL League debut against premier Sturt, collecting 16 disposals and looking at home playing against men. 

But that was just a taste of what was to come seven days later when he tore apart South Adelaide in his second senior match, finishing with 21 disposals, five marks, five tackles, five clearances and three goals to well and truly place himself on the AFL Draft radar. 

Measuring in at a deceptive 186cm, Cumming not only hit the scoreboard in impressive fashion against the Panthers in Port Pirie but also showcased his field-kicking skills. 

Modelling his game on Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney, the 18-year-old told the South Aussie Select podcast that playing against men from the age of 14 whilst representing Wentworth in the highly-competitive Sunraysia Football League based in Mildura.

Cumming was extremely motivated to move to boarding school soon after, making the decision to join Prince Alfred College and SANFL's Roosters to realise his AFL dream. 

One of just 12 players to already receive an invite to attend the AFL Draft night in Melbourne, Cumming has been tipped for selection towards the back end of the top 10.

A true leader, contested football beast and an ultra-reliable teammate.

We all know Central District's Dyson Sharp is all of those things but that didn't prevent him from working hard on other aspects of his game in 2025.

Making his Hostplus SANFL League in 2024 at age 17, Sharp was determined to focus on hitting the scoreboard and improving his outside run this season.

And if the U18 National Championships is anything to go by, he certainly achieved this as he led South Australia to an impressive undefeated campaign.

The Croweaters captain added the Larke Medal to his bulging trophy cabinet as he was also named All-Australian.

Already adept as finding the right balance between having fun and enforcing high standards with his teammates, the now 18-year-old talks about his impressive natural ability with public speaking.

In the latest episode of South Aussie Select, he also reflects fondly on his Barossa District upbringing, watching his father Darren play in premierships while proudly acting as the team mascot.

Brisbane is the only AFL club Sharp hasn't spoken to in the lead up to the AFL Draft, with the Essendon fan prepared to play anywhere in Australia to further his footballing dream.

Filling the stats sheet has become commonplace for Central District tall forward Aidan Schubert. 

The basketball convert is adept at racking up the numbers in multiple categories as he contributes strongly to his team's cause in versatile fashion.

Measuring in at 198cm, the first guest on the South Aussie Select podcast has registered high numbers in disposals, marks, clearances and goals whilst also learning the craft of relieving in the ruck.

Modelling his game on Geelong giant Shannon Neale, the Gawler Central product joined star Port Adelaide forward Jack Lukosius in making his Hostplus SANFL League debut in the major round when he lined up in the Elimination Final.

It came after responding to some constructive criticism from Bulldogs coach Paul Thomas, who rewarded Schubert with his opportunity in the cut-throat decider against the Redlegs.

Coming off a strong U18 National Championships campaign which yielded an All-Australian guernsey, Schubert is hopeful of hearing his name called in the first round on November 19, potentially inside the top 10.

Now finished his Year 12 study at Trinity College, Schubert also chats about the fierce games of backyard cricket with his younger brothers Harrison and Jackson, who are also budding sports stars.

Central District's Charlotte Riggs is itching to throw everything she has into an AFLW opportunity should it arise next Monday night.

The outgoing 18-year-old is bursting full of energy, such is the manner in which she attacks everything in life, including he schooling, playing base guitar and of course, her football.

Speaking on the South Aussie Select podcast, the Bulldogs premiership utility said she would be willing to develop into multiple roles given she has shown promise as a back-up ruck, in attack for the SA U18s and as defender at Elizabeth.

Confirming both Adelaide and Port Adelaide have her on their selection radar, Riggs is mobile for her height of 182cm while embracing the development she has received at Central from coach Ben ''Rexy'' Hunt and senior teammates.

Graduating from Year 12, Riggs revealed that studying psychology is among her considerations while she continues to play in her family's music band and displaying great leadership with her unique team-bonding activities.