Ben Gray: A Legacy of Leadership
It’s a cold, rainy night in June and the team has just come off the track at The Fearon. Still, the lights remain on as a lone figure runs wind sprints, kicking a ball out in front of him only to chase it down and repeat. Having arrived late due to work commitments, the figure—Ben Gray—ensures he doesn’t miss a moment of the work his teammates have already put in. Once done, he walks in soaked and muddy, seeking out feedback from the weekend’s performance. Always preparing, always striving.
This wasn’t a one-off. This was the pattern of arguably CYs’ most decorated player, week in and week out, over the ten years I had the privilege of coaching him.
The words “leader” and “leadership” get thrown around often in football clubs, but few people genuinely make those around them better just by showing up. That was Ben’s superpower. His presence on the track lifted everyone—no words needed. Players trained harder, stayed longer, pushed themselves further. Not because Ben demanded it, but because they didn’t want to let down a captain who never asked of others what he wasn’t already doing himself.
And when the game was on the line, how many times did we watch him throw on his cape and will us over the line?
One moment that stands out above the rest was in 2014, out at Northern Old Boys. The team trailed by 43 points at quarter time. Everyone was stunned—except Ben. What followed was one of the great individual performances in CYs history. Five goals across the next three quarters, involved in nearly every other one we kicked, and a towering hanger in the goal square that sealed an unforgettable comeback. It wasn’t just his stats that day, it was the belief he injected into a team that looked done. That was Ben—when the fight looked lost, he found more.
Across all my years in footy, I haven’t seen many players with the aura Ben carries. His quiet confidence and relentless work ethic set a standard few could match and even fewer could ignore. The most incredible part? Ben has never truly been aware of the impact he has. He’s never carried himself like a star, never expected accolades. And yet, they followed him all the same.
There’s a reason we named an award in his honour. A reason a highly regarded first-year player pulls on the #33 guernsey each season. Ben Gray is, in every sense, what CYs aspires to be. I could list his four senior premierships, multiple best and fairest wins, his time as club captain or his Big V selections—but those only scratch the surface.
His real legacy is in his character. A clubman through and through. Passionate, committed, humble.
Congratulations, my friend. No one in CYs history is more deserving of recognition. Here’s to 250 games of heart, courage, and unwavering class.
From your Coach and Mate Montey