Future Priority Access Thread (Inc. Father/Son, Academy Players)
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There is a story on Levi West in the HUn can anyone with access post it pleaseFFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Levi West the latest Carey Grammar prospect making waves
Carey Grammar is fast becoming one of the leading footy factories in producing the new generation of AFL superstars.
They boast the development of current-day stars, including Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson, Nick Daicos, Josh Weddle and last year’s Rising Star winner Ollie Dempsey.
But it is 16-year-old Levi West, son of Dogs legend Scott, who is championing the new crop at Carey this season.
With the tutelage of head coach Andrew Hamilton, as well as Melbourne star Jack Viney in charge of the midfield group, West is catching the attention of scouts as a 2026 draft prospect.
The youngest West is starring as an inside midfielder, earning a spot among the best-named players in six of his seven games this season.
His fearless attack on the footy, workrate and ability to get the ball from inside to the runners on the outside would sound all too familiar to Dogs fans.
Levi West is the latest top prospect from Carey Grammar. Picture: Michael Klein
“People say I run like my old man. I like to think I would run a bit quicker than that,” West said.
“I think I’ve got a bit of that trait of toughness and being in and under — putting my head in the hole — doing a few of the things that some people might not want to … when I’m out on the field, (I’m) leaving everything on there and doing everything I can to get a win.”
Ferocious at the contest is one thing, but West’s ability to rise to the occasion when his team needs a matchwinning moment from its leader is another standout quality.
Back in a 2014 grand final, West’s under-14 Strathmore side was in a dogfight at three-quarter-time.
With a one-point lead at the final break against Aberfeldie, spectators noted West would hit the pack so fiercely that opposition players stood back, scared to contest the footy.
He would go on to win best-on-ground medal.
His family’s connection with the Bulldogs runs deep and being invited to the Whitten Oval over summer has only reinforced the bond for Levi.
“They’ve provided a few more opportunities to go in and get a bit more of an insight into the club. I haven’t done too much training with them, but I’ve had opportunities to connect with the group and hopefully those opportunities will continue,” West said.
Levi’s brother Rhylee is making a big impact for the Dogs this season. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
“Not too long ago the Bulldogs invited (myself to a) Father’s Sunday and my brother (Rhylee) presented me with a jersey with dad’s number on it. But that was a really good moment.”
Everywhere Levi looked there were star midfielders in his presence, from Dogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to the heartbeat of the team in Tom Liberatore.
“When I watch the games or I go in, obviously (Bont and Libba) are the type of people I ask about,” West said.
“I’ll watch closely and I’ll look at their different patterns of how they move or how they move in a stoppage.
“I haven’t gotten too much to speak with them personally, but I’ve had a lot of people externally or at the Bulldogs provide me with information or videos that can help me out with my journey.”
Levi and Rhylee would spend the school holidays to go up to their family farm, and it was there where Rhylee lifts the lid on club fundamentals to be successful at the top level.
“I learn a lot from the way he trains, the way he eats, and the way you’ve got to go about it,” West said.
“There’s no reason to do it if you’re not enjoying it. So enjoy the people you play with, the coaches you have and learn from everyone you can.
“He always told me just be yourself, and you’re just like every other kid out there that has a dream to play AFL.”
Levi’s father Scott has one of footy’s great CVs.
His father Scott had a remarkable 324-game career for the Bulldogs, finishing as one of greatest Dogs of all-time.
His accolades included seven Charlie Sutton medals – the most of any Dogs player – an All Australian on five occasions and was inducted into the Australian Hall Of Fame in 2013.
Levi is eager to shake off the tag that comes with being the son of a club legend and said the pressure of being a potential father-son pick doesn’t affect him.
“I’m on my own path and I’ll play how I want to play. Obviously people might compare a bit more, but I’m my own person and I’ll play how I want to play,” West said.
“I think (Rhylee’s) probably copped a little bit more of that father-son pressure, a bit more than I have. So I think he had to deal with that a bit more.”
While the youngster continues to dominate around the ground for Carey, he has his old man Scott watching passionately on the sidelines.
Sitting in his deck chair with one eye on Kobi and Cooper’s stream in the EDFL and Rhylee’s on Kayo.
‘I’ll drive him to Moorabbin myself’:
Similarly to Rhylee, his father has imprinted the “foundations” on playing consistent footy to his youngest son as he did with his older brothers.
“He taught me a lot of stuff, the basics, and how to do everything well and everything starts with a foundation,” Levi said.
“If you don’t have a good foundation, you can’t build on that. So ensuring that you’ve got the basics of handballing, tackling, your running patterns, all that, and then the rest will come naturally.”
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