There was excitement around The Canal this week as Finlay Gray went through his paces – the clean hands and seemingly effortless leap for marks, the pinpoint delivery off either foot to his teammates, the balance and acceleration all suggest he’s set to make a huge impact at the Bull Sharks.
At various points along the way, it could have looked very different. He might have been soaring for a rugby ball or wearing the jumper of an AFL club.
Instead, his path has led him to Bond University and a new chapter in his sporting career.
The latest recipient of the Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship is set to make his debut for the Bull Sharks this weekend against Coomera in round one of the 2025 QFA season.
As a junior, Gray excelled in multiple sports including rugby 7s and was a member of Miami State High School’s rugby excellence program. He played 7s in Years 10 and 11 and was even invited to a Queensland camp, but the opportunity clashed with his commitments to the Gold Coast Suns Academy. It was then that he made his choice. He committed to the sport he loved most—AFL. And now, as he prepares to take the field for Bond, he’s confident he has made the right decision.
“I’m playing this week. It is my first game and I’m looking forward to it. It is a good group, the boys are all really close, and there are some good players amongst them,” Gray said.
“This is my first year, so I’m only going on what I’ve heard, but I think there’s a lot more students this year too, and we all hang out around the uni as well.”
Gray was touted as an AFL draft prospect after strong performances for the Suns Academy and playing senior footy in the QAFL while still in high school.
He doesn’t see the move to Bond as a step back in his ambitions, rather as an opportunity to improve his game under elite coaching while also setting up his future career.
Bond’s AFL program boasts some of the best coaching talent in the country, including Director of Football Andy Lovell, triple-premiership Brisbane Lion and 2001 Norm Smith Medallist Shaun Hart, long time Lions teammate Max Kennedy, and Queensland State representative Kain Ford—all of whom bring extensive AFL and QAFL playing and coaching experience.
“I am still trying to get the most out of my footy and play at the best level I can. It’s just that I believe I can do that here with the coaches and facilities we have,” Gray said.
“I can still improve due to the coaching we get here, and I get to play with my mates and get an education at the same time.”
Gray is studying a Bachelor of Property and has plans to move into the industry after football.
“Dad has a few connections in the industry, and the plan is to go into property development when I’ve finished my studies,” he said.
He was encouraged to apply for the Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship by Nick Francis, the 2024 recipient, who played alongside him in the Suns Academy.
“(Nick) kept talking about what a great bunch of guys were at the club and was selling the idea of applying for the scholarship to me. When I told Mum and she looked into it a bit more, we realised it was a great opportunity.”
Gray is dropping back a level to the QFA from the QAFL, where he played the back end of last season in the seniors with the Broadbeach Cats. That experience makes him one of the most seasoned players for the Bull Sharks.
“The whole back end of the season after the academy finished, I was in the QAFL,” he said.
“But I’ve watched a bit of QFA and the standard is very good. I think it is right up there with the QAFL, maybe just a little less skilled, so I’m expecting it to be tough, competitive footy.”
Bond's Director of AFL Andy Lovell said the 18-year-old had made an immediate impact at The Canal.
"He's a quiet, almost shy, sort of guy who would probably be a bit surprised at the impact he is having around the place," he said.
"His talent is obvious, but his teammates can also see how hard he works on his game and the level of maturity he has as a footballer.
"And we've all seen what he can do in senior company at the QAFL, he's as tough as nails and is highly competitive and his teammates feed off that."
While his primary focus is AFL, Gray hasn’t ruled out another run at rugby 7s in the off-season.
“I really enjoyed the 7s and if there is an off-season competition I would definitely give it another go,” he said.