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

[choppy]

7 - Simpson and Ziebell
10 - Stevens, JWS Cunners

2 bulls. No one on the list is currently worthy

George X 2 says hold my beer chsmp

 

[shintemaster]

A beautiful, brute of a player. That amazing combination of sheer power mixed with some of the most perfect skills by hand and foot you are likely to come across. One of my absolute all time favourite players to watch - thanks for all the memories and enjoy the next step.

 

[Fridge24]

Thank you Cunners!! A privilege to watch you play and bleed the blue and white for this club!!

 

[Hearts to hearts]

I sobbed during that video, went for a walk, came back and started reading this thread and now I’m crying again.

Champion doesn’t say nearly enough about what this man has been for North Melbourne and the game. Just have to be grateful we enjoyed him as long as we did, and happy that he has his health and his beautiful family and his friends and the respect of the industry and a great life ahead.

 

[TruRoos7]

Yep that broke me. Absolute legend and champion. I’m gonna miss him

Yep Jy had a few smiles early on until the gravity of the moment hit him in that hug..

Shows how much Ben10 is loved, lots of emotion shown right there loved the WillPhil comment about being in tears and Cunners reply “Sorry Wil” .

A man of few words but such emotion and passion…

 

[Mr north man]

With the news of Cunnington retirement and this being his last game hopefully this gets supporters off there are:s to attend this week game let’s try and get 40k+ to our game with hopefully seeing more North supporters then them at the game.

 

[leighlee13]

I sobbed during that video, went for a walk, came back and started reading this thread and now I’m crying again.

Champion doesn’t say nearly enough about what this man has been for North Melbourne and the game. Just have to be grateful we enjoyed him as long as we did, and happy that he has his health and his beautiful family and his friends and the respect of the industry and a great life ahead.

There aren't many Nth players that I can think of that would evoke the tears Ben is right now and will on the weekend. He is one in a million.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Would’ve won multiple Brownlows in a different era.

An absolute club champion who’s skills were definitely underrated and under appreciated across the wider AFL.

Enjoy the farm!

 

[3051]

Thank you Cunners. You are an absolute champion of the club and the game. We couldn't build that premiership team around you, but you won something far more important - life. Will be sorely missed. Hope you come back to the club in some capacity in the future.

 

[Mute Point]

Whoever does get #10 next has some bloody big shoes to fill.

 

[krakouers]

Ben calls time - last week this week

Official AFL Website of the North Melbourne Football Club

The official AFL website of the North Melbourne Football Club

www.nmfc.com.au

View attachment 1768056

North Melbourne champion and much-loved fan favourite Ben Cunnington has announced his retirement from the AFL. The two-time Syd Barker medallist will play a farewell game this week against Essendon at Marvel Stadium and will retire immediately after that match. Cunnington gained the support of the entire AFL community when he made an inspirational return from cancer treatment late last season. He played the first eight games of 2023, bringing his overall tally to 237. Since Round 9 he has played in the Kangaroos’ VFL team and has remained a member of the club’s leadership group. As Shinboner No.956, Cunnington made his debut in a 12-point win over Hawthorn in Launceston in Round 5, 2010. He went on to become one of the club’s most revered players, renowned for his toughness, calmness with the ball, and his incredible ability to fend off opponents. He will also be remembered as one of the greatest handballers the game has seen. Cunnington’s first Syd Barker Medal came in 2014, and he followed that up with a second win in 2019, the year he was named in the All-Australian squad. He had four other runner-up placings (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2021). He still holds the AFL record for most contested possessions in a single game with 32 against Richmond in Round 8, 2018. After missing most of 2020 with a back injury, Cunnington was on track to have his best-ever season in 2021 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July of that year. He underwent surgery to remove the tumour shortly after. He then endured a nine-week course of chemotherapy when the cancer returned four months after the initial surgery. In one of the most emotional scenes in football, Cunnington was greeted by wife Belinda and children Xavier, Stella and Kobe in the race at Adelaide Oval as he made his return to the AFL in Round 22, 2022 after 385 days on the sidelines. “I couldn’t be more proud of what I’ve achieved on and off the field in the 14 years at this level,” Cunnington told teammates this morning. “From the moment the club drafted me, it was a dream come true as we were surrounded by interstate clubs on draft night. Then to walk into a club that suited my personality, and allowed me to be myself, I couldn’t have asked for a better recipe to get the best out of myself. “I’m proud and grateful of what I’ve overcome in the past few years and for the club to give me the best chance and opportunity to play AFL footy again. “But I felt I lost my hunger once I returned, my perspective in life was too great. Then when I fell out of the senior team, I struggled to have the motivation or drive to get back in. “That’s when I knew it wasn’t fair on myself or you blokes that I continued on next year without being able to give my 100 per cent effort, especially when there are hungry young kids out there that would do anything for the opportunity and to help this team get better. “To the club, thank you for the opportunity and journey for me to live out my childhood dream. It didn’t matter who was in charge at the time, but the club has always had me and my family’s best interest at heart on and off the field. It’s something I will never forget. “This club means the world to me as I’ve almost spent half my life here. The learnings, the memories and the relationships I’ve made will last a lifetime.” North Melbourne’s general manager of football Todd Viney paid tribute to Cunnington. “As we know, Ben is a man of very few words but when he speaks, his teammates listen,” Viney said. “He won the respect of the entire footy community when he came back from his cancer treatment last year and he has only added to that legacy this year. “As a two-time Syd Barker medallist, he’ll go down as one of the greatest and most-loved players in the club’s history. “It’s sad to see him go but it goes without saying that Ben, Belinda, Xavier, Stella and Kobe are welcome at the club any time.” Ben Cunnington fact file Shinboner No.956 Games: 237* Goals: 96* Brownlow votes: 71* career Brownlow votes Recruited from: Cobden/Geelong U18s Draft: Selection No.5 in the 2009 AFL Draft AFL debut: v Hawthorn in Round 5, 2010 at York Park, Launceston Syd Barker Medal winner in 2014 and 2019, runner-up in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2021 All-Australian nominee in 2019 Has only worn the guernsey No.10 throughout his career Member of the leadership group since 2020 Most disposals in a game: 39 vs West Coast in Round 19, 2018 Most goals in a game: 4 vs Western Bulldogs in Round 21, 2014 In Round 8, 2018 he broke the AFL record for the most contested possessions in a single game with 32 against Richmond, and still holds the record to this day

You are a heartless person if you can watch this without misty eyes

 

[King Corey]

Would’ve won multiple Brownlows in a different club.

FIFY.

Putting off watching the video. Best North player since... Archer?

 

[Harris 10]

Absolute Shinboner

 

[Harris 10]

FIFY.

Putting off watching the video. Best North player since... Archer?

100% best North person since Archer

 

[Disco Dew]

Has this been posted again today?
Whatever here it is again.

 

[tazaa]

George X 2 says hold my beer chsmp

One has the number 6 and the other yet to debut in 33.
Sure Brayden could move down but Allison’s number suits him.
Why would Wardlaw shift?
Champ

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Sad. My favourite North player of the last decade. Sublime skills and courage. Cunners with pace would have perhaps been the best footballer ever.

 

[krakouers]

One has the number 6 and the other yet to debut in 33.
Sure Brayden could move down but Allison’s number suits him.
Why would Wardlaw shift?
Champ

Rather they leave his number for at least a year…

Not sure I want anyone in it that’s not Cunnington

 

[giantroo]

Ben Cunnington: A remarkable career in 15 pictures

How the teenage son of a dairy farmer became the Kangaroos' heart and soul

www.nmfc.com.au

 

[Mav]

7 - Simpson and Ziebell
10 - Stevens, JWS Cunners

2 bulls. No one on the list is currently worthy

Archer can have 10.

 

[the big lebowski]

Choccy milks in the fridge for dinner tonight

 

[Groucho]

Man that’s a tough watch but what a player.
Time passes so fast ,I remember watching the 2009 draft with my 6 year old daughter and telling her this is our new player Ben Cunnington

10

Ben Cunnington

Age

32

Ht

185cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.4

5star

K

9.0

3star

HB

12.4

5star

M

2.9

3star

T

4.7

5star

CL

5.6

5star

D

17.7

4star

K

6.0

2star

HB

11.7

5star

M

2.0

2star

T

4.0

5star

CL

4.0

5star

D

15.8

4star

K

6.4

3star

HB

9.4

5star

M

2.4

3star

T

6.2

5star

CL

3.0

5star

, she watched as he was presented with his new number 10 jumper and said “oh he’s Ben10”. Great memories and now it’s over.
Hope he goes forward and kicks 5 so we can all say “see! That’s what we were talking about!”
Played Ben10

 

[krakouers]

Ben Cunnington: A remarkable career in 15 pictures

How the teenage son of a dairy farmer became the Kangaroos' heart and soul

www.nmfc.com.au

Oh no big fella.. I fell for one misty eyed one… won’t do two today

 

[giantroo]

7 - Simpson and Ziebell
10 - Stevens, JWS Cunners

2 bulls. No one on the list is currently worthy

River Stevens is a year away. He's shown some signs of having it in his underage year.

 

[giantroo]

Oh no big fella.. I fell for one misty eyed one… won’t do two today

Maybe a third time.