When Adelaide utility Isaac Cumming takes to the field against his former team this weekend, there is one familiar face he is keen to line up against.

Cumming played 81 games across eight seasons with Greater Western Sydney, before making the move to West Lakes in the 2024 off-season.

Six games into his career as a Crow, the 26-year-old will face his former team for the first time when Adelaide hosts the Giants on Easter Saturday.

Speaking to AFC Media, Cumming said matching up against his former Captain and opposing wingman Callan Ward would be a challenge he was excited to undertake.

“Obviously Wardy (Callan Ward) lines up on the wing for them, so I’m excited to go up against him and put him to the sword hopefully,” Cumming said. 

“It might be weird not kicking the ball to them out on the field, but it will be really nice to see all the Giants boys here in Adelaide, I’ve got great relationships with everyone there.

“I’m extremely grateful for my time at the Giants, they gave me my opportunity at the draft and chance to play AFL which is something I’d dreamed of since I was a kid. Footy wise they basically raised me, so I look back on my time there and absolutely love it. 

“They don’t fly out until Sunday, so I’m sure we’ll get dinner on Saturday night, and hopefully I’ll have the bragging rights, because if I don’t I’ll definitely hear about it.”

Two of the AFL’s top ranked offences will be on display when the sides face off, with the Crows first and Giants fourth for points scored so far this season. 

Cumming was expecting to see plenty of fireworks in the clash against his former side. 

“I’m very excited for the game against the Giants, a bit of the smack talk has started already with some of the boys over there,” Cumming said. 

“In terms of a game of footy I think it will be an absolute cracker, they are going really well and we’re not going too bad either, so I’m expecting it to be very close. 

“Right now the feeling is just excitement, but I’m sure the nerves will settle in a bit more as the game gets closer.

“They are a good Club, and so are we here at the Crows, and I’m expecting it to be a cracking game on Saturday.”

As to where he believed the game would be won and lost, he said there was one key aspect to the Giants’ game the Crows needed to curtail. 

“Obviously they’ve got a lot of speed, speed to burn really,” Cumming said. 

“As a result they move the ball really well, and have some pretty classy forwards to kick it too at the end of the chain. 

“So if we can nullify their ability to get out and run, and take care of guys like Hoges (Jesse Hogan) and Toby (Greene) in their forward line I think that will go a long way to us getting the points.” 

The first month of season 2025 has provided a new challenge to the Broken Hill native, as he adapted to playing on a new team for the first time in his AFL career. 

He said with each game he had felt more comfortable and revealed the favourite part of the move so far. 

“Early days coming in I was a bit worried about how my role would look and if I’d gelled enough with the group over the summer to come in and feel like I belong out there. 

“There was probably a bit of rust early days, but now I’m feeling very comfortable out there and keen to keep that rolling over the next few weeks.” 

“One of my favourite things about the move to Adelaide has been how much I’ve been able to see my family.

“Seeing them in the rooms after a win is a hard feeling to beat, and knowing that they are in the stands watching definitely gives me an extra boost.

“They are heading up again this weekend, I don’t reckon they’ve missed one so far, and hopefully we can celebrate a win against the old mob together.”

Adelaide takes on Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval this Saturday afternoon, with the first bounce at 3.45pm (ACST).