SA draft bolter in top 10 mix as Dees, Dons circleHeraldSun
3 Nov 2025
Melbourne and Essendon are circling a bolter who has played footy for teams in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in a juggling act that has rocketed him into the top 10 mix of this year’s AFL Draft.
Hailing from the NSW border town of Wentworth, Sam Cumming has boarded at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide for the past three years and represented Bendigo Pioneers at the V-Line Cup before the move.
It has made choosing his state allegiance difficult — especially after South Australia’s national championships win this year.
“After the champs, it’s definitely questioned that a bit, but I think at this point it’s just whoever’s asking,” Cumming said with a smile.
Cumming’s footy has flourished over in Adelaide, earning All-Australian status at their successful carnival, dominating the SANFL U18s with North Adelaide, and impressing at league level with the Roosters.
In just his second SANFL game, the quick and tough midfielder-forward turned heads with three goals and 21 disposals against South Adelaide.
Such performances are why clubs with picks inside the top 10 at the national draft are being heavily linked to Cumming as the draft on November 19 fast approaches.
Back in his hometown, with a population of around 1500, two ex-AFL players laid the foundation for his barnstorming season.
Former Hawthorn and Sydney forward Ben McGlynn and ex-Western Bulldogs and Essendon wingman Mark Alvey have served as important mentors along with his father, Glen, a club great at Wentworth.
“Dad’s been a big one, growing up in a country town. He’s always showed me around and showed me the ways of what to do with footy and life as well,” Cumming said.
“And then the likes of Ben McGlynn and Mark Alvey have also been really helpful throughout that journey as well.
“They both played AFL footy, so having them as well, have been pretty lucky.”
McGlynn has been back at Wentworth since he departed as St Kilda assistant coach at the end of 2022, but he worked closely with Cumming even during his time at the Saints.
Cumming debuted at senior level in the Sunraysia league when he was just 14, named in the best in eight of his 15 games in 2022.
“Pretty sure he was still at St Kilda that year. but he was coming backwards and forwards a fair bit, so over that summer, worked with him with a bit of craft and stuff in the gym,” Cumming said.
“Did a fair bit of work with him when I’d go back home.
“ (Alvey) did a lot of my rep footy in that regional work. But he’s also played a lot of footy with dad at Wentworth Roos. So when he come back, he was a player, and he coached a fair bit as well.”
Cumming was eager to board away from home from a young age and after considering schools in Victoria, he chose the closer option in Adelaide, where his sister lives.
“I’ve always wanted to board when I was, 12-13, wanted to go away to boarding school,” Cumming said.
“And there was a few boys older than me that went away and did pretty well – not only at their footy, but just enjoyed it as well.
The boarding experience has him well prepared for playing footy anywhere in any state across Australia.
“I have already sort of moved out of home and had those hard couple of weeks, (feeling) a bit homesick,” Cumming said.
“So wherever I go, I should be fine, and hopefully adjust to a new environment pretty quickly.
At the start of the year, he wrote some “ambitious” goals on the pinboard in his room: playing well for the AFL Academy, making All-Australian with South Australia and winning the championships, and playing SANFL league with North Adelaide.
He passed them all with flying colours.
“It’s been pretty crazy, it’s all gone very quick. I thought they were maybe a tad ambitious, but reflecting back on it now, it’s been pretty lucky to tick most of them off,” Cumming said.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/meet-sam-cumming-the-sa-draft-bolter-demons-are-circling-with-top-10-pick/news-story/454d12f07e644b6cf573c2dad2013d28
