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

[ferball]

I'm not 100% against penalising an action based on the potential to cause injury, but this isn't the right way to do it. No one is getting hurt from how he executed it. That amount of force to the head simply isn't going to do anything.

If Cunners had caught him flush on the chin with most of the force, but Laird through being a mix of lucky and tough was fine and played on... then I would accept a suspension. But in this case the contact was negligible, and barely even that, then it just doesn't sit right.

If he got suspended after showing a duty of care and minimising the impact successfully what player would bother doing that again?

 

[Liam Boy]

yeah agree, but my view is the bump should be for shepherding and trying to win a contested ball. Choosing to bump rather than tackle the ball carrier is always going to be a risk.

there's just no point of bumping the ball carrier, the only reason to bump is so you don't get holding the man paid against you.

 

[the big lebowski]

I hope Cunners fires up this week. He has been ok and finding his feet, but we need him. Hopefully a dewy night game might help slow things down.

 

[La Flama Blanca]

The AFL want the bump gone imo, it is or was a great part of our game . Just another thing I can tell the Grand kids, when tackling becomes defunct and touching your opponent means they have to dispose of the ball immediately .

It's funny how things change. When I was younger, there was a period of development where you were allowed to bump but not tackle. It was considered the less physical option to start kids off with.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

It's funny how things change. When I was younger, there was a period of development where you were allowed to bump but not tackle. It was considered the less physical option to start kids off with.

Ha, I'd forgotten about that but you're right. From memory when I started playing (late 70s) it was just normal rules but in the 80s they brought in "modified rules" as they called it until under-12s. That was the key difference- bumping but no tackling.

 

[koshari]

ChoppyGun filling the void of senseless destruction that Snake_Baker has left in our hearts!

strange bedfellows ;-)

 

[treegreen]

Absolute pleasure to watch him at his best. Has looked a class above everyone else tonight.

 

[Nylex]

Composure with ball in hand is the best i have seen. Superstar

 

[Billy Not Really]

Absolute joy to watch him dominate again, was really the reason why we stayed in it for the first half.

 

[Friday Night Lights]

What a man. Today was a vintage 2019 Cunners display. He’s back.

 

[Swallow_Wood]

Imagine if he was wearing hoops tonight? The cleaners at Govt.Funded Park would be on shifts cleaning the spoof off the commentary box window.

 

[koshari]

Iam not sure Hercules was a myth anymore?

 

[AnEmptyChair]

That one-handed mark was just ridiculous. Genuinely one of the most naturally gifted footballers to ever play for the club. It's such a disservice to his ability that he gets typecast as a tough, in-and-under midfielder.

It's a ******* pleasure to watch him at it.

 

[giantroo]

 

[Flawed Genius]

The handball to set up Atley is as good as I've seen. Powell must have watched it going "there is another...."

When Shaun missed the ensuing shot on goal I almost launched the remote. Deserved better

 

[Friday Night Lights]

The handball to set up Atley is as good as I've seen. Powell must have watched it going "there is another...."

When Shaun missed the ensuing shot on goal I almost launched the remote. Deserved better

Was like watching Rembrandt knock up a painting in real time

 

[Boomerfan99]

Pity Atley f****d up the goal.

 

[bennymate]

s**t timing career wise, probably would be staring down the barrel of a flag if we went the rebuild route end of 2016. Deserves one.

 

[Ashley B]

He might be like Matty Larkin, missed out on the new great era by that much
He kicked that on his opposite too from memory. If you look closely I reckon the last Eagle player he baulked clapped the goal.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Was like watching Rembrandt knock up a painting in real time

And when Atley was finished with the masterpiece it looked like this

 

[shintemaster]

Puts on a clinic and we spend the whole game listening to Dangerfield watch from the commentary team.

 

[SMaturin]

Must have the best core strength in the game.

He had no business maintaining his position at the ball drop when he took that one hander.

 

[Friday Night Lights]

And when Atley was finished with the masterpiece it looked like this

 

[Ashley B]

And when Atley was finished with the masterpiece it looked like this

Fk that was funny lol

 

[Twinkletoes]

I bloody love Cunners.

Personifies all we love about the mythical Shinboner qualities.

An absolute warrior.

Anyone who’s written him off in this thread can cop a Cunners fend off to the gonads!