“Went forward and was damaging”: AFL Draft prospect’s forward focus pays dividendsJonty Ralphsmith
Zerohanger
24 Oct 2025North Adelaide prospect Sam Cumming looms as a potential top-10 pickup at the AFL Draft in November.
An All-Australian part of South Australia's victorious U18s National Championships campaign, Cumming's acumen in the midfield is well established and he has become a much more potent front half threat in 2025.
Starting forward for South Australia throughout much of the carnival, he proved a difficult matchup with his power and strength making him a dual threat in the air and on the ground.
Speaking to Craft of the Draft earlier in the season, Cumming said a goal of his was to improve his forward craft and he was given every opportunity to succeed before a shoulder injury cut his season short.
Recruiters got an entrée of that ability in a four goal game for North Adelaide early in the season, while he also showed his wares playing school footy for Prince Alfred College and averaged a goal per game for South Australia.
Cumming also played four senior games for the Roosters this year, averaging 13 disposals, three clearances and three tackles as he showed great promise in the midfield mix.
“We had a plan in place for him and he nailed it, achieving everything he wanted to this year,” Roosters coach Mitch Clisby said.
“We saw his strengths on show in those league games where he got a best on ground and showed his strength around the contest and competitiveness and went forward and was damaging.”
“We were really pleased with his progression as a forward – he's s a hard player to matchup on because one-on-one he's so strong and overhead, he's so powerful.”
His ability to slot in seamlessly followed the teenager playing local senior footy for Wentworth, the same junior club that GWS Giant Jack Ough hails from, as a 15-year-old, with those experiences giving him an insight into what it takes to play against men.
“Going up against bigger bodies has certainly held me in good stead,” Cumming told Craft of the Draft earlier in 2025.
“It was awesome to just watch how everyone prepares and the training standards.
“Being part of the grand final team, it was special to see what it meant to everybody especially being so young, so it was a real eye opener.
“I think we had 10,000-15,000 at the grand final which is the biggest crowd I've ever played in front of.”
Cumming then got an insight into life on an AFL list when training with Port Adelaide in pre-season, with Connor Rozee one he learned off in particular.
“Connor opened his arms a little bit and brought me in and taught me the ways to be an AFL footballer and his footwork is unbelievable,” Cumming recalled.
“The way he gets on the move at stoppage and has the agility and power to burst from packs and being able to find a target from that.”
He moved to Adelaide's prestigious Prince Alfred College ahead of last year, with North Adelaide nurturing his development in that time.
Roosters teammate and fellow draft prospect Blake Oudhsoorn-Bennier gave an insight into what he'll provide an AFL club.
“He's just an explosive player who has got good fundamentals,” Oudshoorn-bennier said.
“He's got good fundamentals; a good left foot, right foot and very good in the air and plays taller than he is.”
“I think he's the ultimate professional as well when it comes to being an athlete.
“He looks after himself off the field, but then when it's trainings and games, he really drives those standards.”
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/went-forward-and-was-damaging-afl-draft-prospect-s-forward-focus-pays-dividends/ar-AA1OZVdP?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ASTS&cvid=68f9f158d32741dea4e0d9683d2867a7&ei=32
