Aussie Wonderkid Unveils ‘Dream Club’ After Debunking Google Rumours

Dylan Leonard has captivated the Isuzu UTE A-League with his impressive ascent at Western United. The teenage prodigy shared insights into his journey and the aspirations driving his career during a conversation with aleagues.com.au.

After training, as Dylan Leonard settles at a table overlooking Western United’s Ironbark Fields, one feature stands out noticeably.

The 17-year-old centre-back’s height is greater than many anticipate. There’s been some chatter about his stature ever since he made his debut this season, but it seems to be a misconception—one that has previously put off certain international scouts.

Leonard has set the record straight.

“When you look me up, it shows my birthday and height incorrectly. It used to say I’m about 5’10 or 5’11, but in reality, I’m just shy of 6’2. That information has been updated,” Leonard shared from Western United’s base in Tarneit.

“My agent once told me that some clubs were saying I was too short and weren’t keen. He stood next to me and said, ‘You’re not small!’”

“Some clubs in Germany won’t recruit centre-backs under 184 or 185cm, and I’m 187cm. I don’t understand how my age is incorrect, and I think my height info is outdated by two or three years. I’m not sure where that came from.”

This has been a remarkable debut season for Leonard, one that has etched its mark in history and established him as one of the most exhilarating young prospects in Australian football.

The former Port Melbourne Sharks youngster is now Western United’s youngest-ever debutant and goal-scorer in the Isuzu UTE A-League.

A pivotal moment shifted the course of Leonard’s season and possibly his career when veteran defender James Donachie was sidelined with a calf injury before Round 2 in October.

Leonard hasn’t looked back since.

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and for the boys; they’ve supported me immensely,” the young talent commented. “They’ve instilled confidence in me when I’ve faltered and have truly encouraged me to play my natural game. The timing was serendipitous.”

“It’s a bit fortuitous that certain injuries occurred. I was in the squad for the first match of the season, and by the second match, I was starting. But earlier in pre-season, I had valuable exposure… I played against Melbourne City and went up against players like (Marco) Tilio and (Andrew) Nabbout. It’s thanks to the lads around me.”

“I believed that if I trained well and did the right things, when my chance came, I would seize it. However, I didn’t expect that opportunity to come as early as the second match of the season.”

Leonard’s rise has been remarkably swift.

After a year at Melbourne City at age 12, he joined Western United in early 2024 after leaving his childhood club, Port Melbourne, where he made his senior debut for the NPLM VIC side, along with his older brother, Mark, who also joined the Green and Black academy.

Initially, Leonard featured in NPL football—VPL1 in Victoria’s second tier—before signing a scholarship deal in June. A mere four months later, he made his first appearance against Wellington Phoenix as a substitute in Round 1.

Since then, he has played 24 matches, netting once for John Aloisi’s high flyers.

“I might have been more inclined to stay at City because of my year spent there as a child. They have a great setup,” he reflected. “Then academy director Anthony Frost and then head coach Diogo Ferreira were eager for me to train and trial with them.”

“After my first session, I could tell this was a different standard—with coaching, professionalism, and overall environment. It felt like the right place for me.”

Thriving in that setting, the academy graduate has not been overwhelmed by the demands of the A-League. Although it’s just his 24th appearance early in his professional career, his development is evident.

A quintessential modern centre-back, Leonard combines composed ball distribution with significant physical presence. His smooth transition into the Isuzu UTE A-League is a result of a decision made a couple of years back.

Leonard had donned the shirt of City’s Under-14 side as a 12-year-old, playing alongside future academy stars like Lawrence Wong, Lachie Charles, and Peter Antoniou.

However, he opted to return to Port Melbourne after just one season, where he honed his skills as a midfielder before settling into the centre-back role.

“I felt the setup at Port was excellent. I was coached by Adam Piddick, who is phenomenal, and I trained with him for several years,” he recalled. “I believed I would develop further playing against older opponents.”

“While at City, we generally played one age group up, which was fine, but training sessions featured players my age who were often smaller and more technical. I assumed I’d be challenged more against larger, stronger players.”

“I returned to Port and played around 75-80 games that year because I was involved in U15s, U16s, U17s, and U18s. There were weeks I’d play four matches, sometimes cramping up by the time I was subbed on. That volume of match minutes has been greatly beneficial.”

Leonard elaborated on his rapid progression: “After one year participating in U16 and U18 competitions at Port, in my next year, I started all games for the 21s and was on the bench for the NPL1 senior team.

“That was my initial exposure to men’s football, which differs greatly. The players do not hold back in their feedback. They make it clear when you make a mistake. The team at Port was mostly made up of experienced players, so no young lads were present.”

“That was perhaps the greatest adjustment I faced in terms of a new environment. When I transitioned from that to Western, I already understood what men’s football entailed.”

It’s astonishing to watch Leonard play, especially considering he is merely 17 and has yet to obtain his driver’s licence.

“Matthew Sutton lives in Port Melbourne as well, so he swings by my place daily and takes me to training,” Leonard noted. “He drops me home after every session and on game days too. This means my parents don’t have to arrive two hours early.”

This is a player who only finished school this year; balancing full-time football and education proved to be quite a challenge.

“I switched to unscored because I was often returning home from training exhausted,” he mentioned.

“It was tough. We’d leave school early for training and wouldn’t be back until 9:30-10pm. If I had a SAC (school assessed coursework) due the next day, there were nights I would be up late studying—sometimes even studying during lunch at school.”

This change has allowed Leonard to concentrate on his ultimate goal—realising his dream of playing for Scottish giants Celtic.

Leonard, who recently attended a UEFA Champions League match against Atletico Madrid with “the best fans in the world,” grew up in a Celtic-obsessed family, both of his parents hailing from Scotland.

“It’s everything to me,” he said. “It’s likely one of the key reasons I began playing football and have strived to excel in my career so far, thanks to watching games with my family and going over with my cousins to see Celtic play.”

“I know how much that club means to my family and to me as well. It has undoubtedly influenced my desire to pursue a career in football.”

In fact, he has drawn inspiration from Celtic icons Paul McStay and Kristoffer Ajer.

“They’re players I’ve looked up to based primarily on what my dad has told me,” he said.

“I watch a lot of Celtic, particularly players like Kristoffer Ajer during his time at the club and his aggressive style of play. It’s something I’ve aimed to integrate into my own game, pushing forward when the team sits back, making transitions, and changing the game’s tempo.

“My dad often spoke of Paul McStay, who was known for playing the ball forward instead of taking the safe option—players who can change matches by their ability to play aggressively. That’s something I’ve tried to incorporate into my own play as a centre-back.”

It’s all part of his ultimate aspiration: to play for Celtic.

“Playing for Celtic is undoubtedly one of my key goals in football,” Leonard expressed.

“Winning something with Celtic, of course, is also on my list, but that’s truly the primary goal—for that to be the club I represent.”