After enjoying a breakout season in 2021, Isaac Cumming should be a familiar name for AFL fans, but the defender has flown under the radar up until this point in his career.
A smooth mover with silky foot skills, the 23-year-old's play off half-back is often overlooked in a team filled with stars.
This was despite finishing last year ahead of Lachie Whitfield and Nick Haynes in the GWS best and fairest count — taking his time to get there with just 38 games since getting drafted at pick 20 in 2016.
"I came in so raw and so underdone [that] I had a lot of work to do."
A '200-game player'
The unassuming back-man from Broken Hill has been ranked as an elite in the metres gained statistic this season.
Head coach Leon Cameron believed Cumming's "apprenticeship" in his first few years set up him up for a promising future where he could spend up to 15 years at the club.
"His understanding of what it takes to be an AFL footballer has probably grown over the last two-and-a-half to three years.
"It looks like it's taken him a while, but he's set himself up with a really strong base to be a 200-game player for us."
Comfortable with his place
In a side that featured names like Callan Ward, Toby Greene and Josh Kelly, it was easy to be overlooked by media and opposition sides.
Cumming said he was more than comfortable with that.
"I've got no qualms with flying under the radar.
"I'm just happy to play for the GWS football club … that stuff doesn't phase me."
His coach, who has Cumming playing alongside former All-Australian Lachie Whitfield, appreciated the attitude.
"He's not one for accolades; he just goes about his business," Cameron said.
"Maybe people judge Isaac that he sits underneath Whitters [Lachie Whitfield].
"Internally, we think Harry Perryman, Lachie and Isaac are all playing a really good role."
Inspired by locals
Cumming said a number of Broken Hill figures had been instrumental in his journey.
"When I was a teenager, [former player and coach] Dale Tonkin identified me as potentially playing a good standard of footy.
"I think another big one is probably Tex [Taylor Walker from the Adelaide Crows]," Cumming said.
"To see what he's done in the competition, as a 12 or 13 year-old kid seeing someone do that, I wanted to do the same.
"If I can have half the career he's had, I'm going to be pretty happy."
