Former North Adelaide talent manager and under-18s coach Mitch Clisby has been a keen observer of Sam Cumming’s football development throughout the past couple of years.

Clisby, who recently joined AFL club Port Adelaide as a development coach, coached Richmond’s first pick in the 2025 national draft at SANFL under-18s level, then watched him progress and impress in North Adelaide’s senior side.

He is a big fan of the way Cumming goes about his football.

“Sam’s an elite athlete, but his contested game is his real strength and go-to,” Clisby said via Newscorp.

“He’s a midfielder who can go forward and have a huge impact on a game. For a medium-sized forward, his overhead marking is very powerful.

“He has a bit of (Sydney’s) Isaac Heeney about him. Heeney’s probably got a couple of inches on him in terms of height, but he has similar attributes in that he can go forward and take a mark but also go inside the contest as an inside mid and have an impact there as well.

“He's got this penetrating kick which forward of centre is quite damaging and he's a hard match-up one-on-one because of his ability to mark overhead.

“He's become really explosive and has put himself on a good platform to launch.

“Sam’s the ultimate professional on and off the field. He’s A-plus in all areas, not just technical, but also with his preparation and professionalism.

“The kid just ticks all the boxes.’’

Former Essendon and Western Bulldogs player Mark Alvey, who now coaches Mildura in the Sunraysia League, has been a mentor of Cumming for several years, and rates him extremely highly.

“He’s a ripper – as tough as they come. And the most humble, hard-working kid you will find,” Alvey said via the SANFL.

“His ability to absorb information and feedback, then act on it, is the best I have seen from any kid I have dealt with in the last 10-12 years.”