Everything has happened late for South Australian AFL Draft prospect Sam Tassone.
He did not have a player agent until his top-aged season started, was a late addition to the South Australian squad for the Under-18s National Championships and saved his best game for South Australia's final outing of the carnival.
A prototype line-breaking half-back, he has steadily risen into AFL Draft conversations this year after strong form for North Adelaide at Talent League level and school side Prince Alfred College (PAC).
“At the start of the year I felt like I was a number playing up and then playing alright footy I felt like I should be the one to take the game on with ball in hand and backed myself more,” Tassone told Zero Hanger.
"Initially I was just trying to get a game for North Adelaide and after Round 1, everything came out of nowhere after I played well.
"It was overwhelming because I didn't expect any of it. I had a good chat to Nick Liddle and put (all the noise) all to one side and focused on my footy."
That Round 1 game was under lights at Norwood with a 29-disposal outing franking a massive pre-season.
A boarder at the prestigious PAC, Tassone is originally from Mildura in Victoria's Sunraysia region, making the move south ahead of last year to advance his footy.
Hailing from Irymple Football Club, where he made his senior debut in a final last year and credits enormously for his growth, the standards demanded in Adelaide were initially confronting as he also managed living away from home for the first time.
“In Mildura I was the big fish and over (in Adelaide) I was another footballer trying to find his way," Tassone recalled.
"I had a few mates who moved with me and they were doing alright. One of them was playing firsts footy and I didn't feel like I was in the right position to play firsts and didn't like the fact I wasn't.
"I wanted to move and I found it easy personally last year. There was a stage I got homesick but a few of us stuck together and this year has flown with all the opportunities I'm getting, I'm really enjoying it.
"I've become a lot more independent and don't have to rely on others. I am confident to do what's right for me and not chase the pack. I'm definitely prepared to move now. I feel like I've done it and shown I can do it."
Amid glimpses of potency, he was unable to show his points of difference consistently enough and went the whole season without representing PAC's firsts lineup and playing just five games for North Adelaide.
The sub-optimal output weighed on Tassone, who models his game on GWS rebounder Lachie Ash.
“I've always dreamt of playing AFL footy and last year it was very far away and I didn't like the fact it was so far away and unachievable if I kept up what I was doing so I locked in," Tassone added.
A big pre-season awaited.
Tassone looked to North Melbourne star Harry Sheezel for inspiration to clean up his diet and a meeting with former Roosters coach Mitch Clisby, now at Port Adelaide, was the catalyst for what lay ahead.
A fractured ankle frustrated him late last year, with Tassone developing a love for swimming in the process as he sought a form of conditioning off legs.
Ask anyone around South Australia and they'll tell you about the switch Tassone flicked in summer which set him up for 2026.
“I wasn't overly happy with my year when I sat down with Mitch Clisby at the end of last year. Moving to PAC was a big change.
"I expected everything to flow-on and it didn't, I wasn't really finding my feet at North and he believed in me but believed I needed to get fitter and stronger.
"I just ramped up everything. It helped my footy but also me as a person as well.
"I was a bit undersized and not feeling as good as I could so I focused in on my diet which was my biggest change. I went really strict for a few months and did three swims, three gym sessions and three runs per week and would keep active; whether that was something as simple as playing basketball to burn a few more calories or be fitter, it was all important."
Tassone's journey bares striking similarity to Richmond youngster Sam Cumming, who is from Wentworth Football Club, across the Murray River from Mildura before going to PAC and North Adelaide.
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Tassone, who was next door neighbours with North Melbourne's Dylan Stephens in his early childhood, grew up on the river jet skiing and waterskiing.
Unlike Cumming, Tassone has his driver's licence, enabling him to make the four-hour trip home approximately fortnightly where his childhood mates keep him grounded and allow him to mentally refresh.
Noted as one of the most humble players in the crop, Tassone is still apprehensive to say he can follow Cumming onto an AFL list despite having undergone several AFL club interviews but believes he has employable traits.
“I'd like to say I'm a hard-working person who does the extras and a good bloke all round with teammates who can always be counted on," Tassone said.
"I want to be known as someone who faces up regardless of match situation and always provides run. A big growth area this year has been not going into my shell and taking the easy route, always using my strengths.
"The balance between defence and offence was a challenge at the start of the year, there was too much offence then I went too defensive in my first few school footy games so finding that balance and having a few defensive acts and using my run and carry is something I want to continue to do each game."
For much of the Under-18s National Championships, Tassone took a backseat as teammate Jake Eime pushed himself into first round contention but he was arguably best afield in the last game as he struck a fine balance between defending and attacking.
He averaged 21 disposals and five marks, generating plenty of transition, while a strong holding the ball tackle in the second half of the last game was symbolic of the aggression that he has which hasn't typically been associated with his game this year.
“He's exploded this season and in his first couple of weeks people started taking notice," Roosters coach Liddle said.
"He's pretty agile as a running half-back. He can turn left and right quickly, he's strong through the hips, he can defend when he needs to and his ball-use is good.
"He's a metres gained type of player. He's been fantastic with his speed and ability to carry the footy. The half-back role suits him."
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