Past #10: Ben Cunnington - will retire from the AFL after * game - 238 games/95+ goals/2x Syd Barker Medalist/Shinboner - thanks for everything Cunners

[TooUglyForFugly]

If we thought Darth Vader was scary, imagine if the suit was hiding Ben Cunnington. Removing the mask would reveal something more terrifying.

 

[kangaspurs]

I know we overrate our own players but... actually nah * it.

By the end of next year this bloke will clearly be our best player, be all-aus and be in the top 10 players in the comp.

 

[justroyal]

Some of the things we learn about our players when we are 30 points down at half time, and after they receive a motivational talk from dal santo is amazing..

 

[Firebat]

I once said we should trade him and a pick for Luke Parker.

Sorry I'm a *******.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Sorry I'm a *******.

Sig worthy Fb.

 

[The Dingrel]

Right, sorry. No excuses there.

Pauls Ruse should stick to analysing and cleaning out his own list, hed give both his nuts and right arm to have him in his squad.,,,,,now f*** off and make me a cuppa tea Paul.

 

[Daz]

First handball went to Gibson's feet. Delist.

 

[Flawed Genius]

First handball went to Gibson's feet. Delist.

Are we talking about the one where he handballed it out in front of Gibson before his goal? Because I reckon he did it deliberately, trying to get it to bounce up into Gibson's hands. His mind works too quick for his body sometimes.

 

[Daz]

Are we talking about the one where he handballed it out in front of Gibson before his goal? Because I reckon he did it deliberately, trying to get it to bounce up into Gibson's hands. His mind works too quick for his body sometimes.

Yeah, that one.

Love the new player thread setup.

 

[Stan Darsh]

I like this comparison.

For the people wondering where Cunners will fit once Ziebs is back, there will always be a position available for blokes that have an exquisite feel for the game. Lewis' defensive forward job on Saturday as one example.

He isn't slow in and around contests by any means when he is fighting for the ball and I quite like the fact that he is ponderous with the ball, why would he rush and waste a possession when he has hands footballers dream of? Experience and a few pre seasons, that is all this kid is missing from being a gun.

He will become one of those players you don't have to worry about not performing going into a big final.

Probably gonna be better than I thought. Heh

 

[Daz]

I stand by my Luke Ball comparison.

 

[astrovic]

His numbers against the Bombers...in 70% game time only.

On a 100% game time basis, he would have had 42 possessions (24 contested), 10 marks (3 contested), 10 clearances and 1.5 goals.

And numbers never tell you much about the quality of his game, which was exquisite. That Gibson goal - Cunners' first handball to Gibbo was a bit rough, and Gibbo had to give it back to him under pressure and kept running towards goal. Cunnington then identifed Gibbo had got about 1m goalside of his man and fired a handpass that was only going to work if Gibbo didn't have to pause or break stride, otherwise he would have been caught. The handpass hit Gibbo on the run exactly where you want it - laces out so to speak - so he could put it straight onto his boot for goal. Just sublime. (great work by Gibbo too)

 

[Spaking]

Gibbo dropped it, well done to Cunners for his composure and to trust Gibbo enough to give it back to him!

 

[DarkPhoenix]

For what it's worth congrats to Cunners for making the AFLs best 22 under 23 team.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

For what it's worth congrats to Cunners for making the AFLs best 22 under 23 team.

Yeah, but lets be honest, Ollie Wines missed out in that team. Apparently it was picked by fans.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Yeah, but lets be honest, Ollie Wines missed out in that team. Apparently it was picked by fans.

This was done by the AFL website journos.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I stand by my Luke Ball comparison.

Interestingly Ball never got as much of the footy as Cunners has this year.

 

[Daz]

Interestingly Ball never got as much of the footy as Cunners has this year.

He has (plenty of times, actually), although I must admit I'm surprised Ball was mostly in the 20-23 disposals per game range, thought it might have been a bit more. Very good player regardless.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Interestingly Ball never got as much of the footy as Cunners has this year.

Wow, I never realised this. Super impressed by Ben’s numbers this year, of course, but I suppose I just assumed that Ball would have beaten those numbers in his very best years (pre-Lyon?)

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Wow, I never realised this. Super impressed by Ben’s numbers this year, of course, but I suppose I just assumed that Ball would have beaten those numbers in his very best years (pre-Lyon?)

I'm only going by per game numbers, but Ball's best season when he played at least 15 games was 22 touches in his third season (which is what Ben is at this season). He had 23.4 last year but missed half the season. For most of his career he was right around the 20 mark (career is 20.4).

Once Ben graduates to that 25+ per game player it won't even be a comparison. Loved Ball as a player but he had limitations that Ben doesn't.

 

[Augustine]

Cunners my tip for B&F.

 

[HARPSichord]

Future Brownlow Medallist.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Equal 20th in the Brownlow is seriously awesome. He is approaching elite.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Equal 20th in the Brownlow is seriously awesome. He is approaching elite.

And elite is shitting its dacks.

 

[Yianni]

He's been a steady build since he started. Every year he just seems to get 10-15% better.

Love love LOVE the guy!