Review Players (10-19)

[Ahern2Boof]

#10 Ben Cunnington

Age: 21

Games: 54

Score: 15.9



2012 Games: 20

2012 Score: 10.4

Disposals: 367 (18.4)

Marks: 61 (3.0)

Tackles: 107 (5.4)



Many people, including North Melbourne supporters, were frustrated with Ben Cunnington’s lack of development as a senior player, considering he was a number five draft pick from 2009. The idea that North recruited a dud was getting explored on most North Melbourne forums, but he showed true glimpses of what he could become early in Season 2012. 25 disposals, five tackles and two goals in Round Two against Greater Western Sydney was a positive sign, as was his 23 possessions and one goal against Gold Coast a few weeks afterwards. But he was soon out of the side after a poor showing against Adelaide in Round 13. In a true blessing in disguise, the Ziebell suspension in Round 16 helped Cunnington back into the side as a true, in and under midfielder, instead of a high half-forward. Cunnington’s stretch of games from Round 17 until the Elimination Final was as impressive as any North supporter has seen for some time. In his best game to date, he battled against Scott Pendlebury in Round 21 against Collingwood and came out with plenty of respect from the football public, collecting 24 touches and laying 11 tackles in the five goal win. Cunnington achieved career-best numbers against Greater Western Sydney in Round 23 when he picked up 33 disposals. He was also one of few players who tried his all against the Eagles in the Elimination Final. It is onwards and upwards for Cunnington in 2013, and his final eight weeks of the season definitely cemented his position in the side for Round One next year.



#11 Michael Firrito

Age: 28

Games: 193

Score: 28.29



2012 Games: 23

2012 Score: 1.1

Disposals: 412 (17.9)

Marks: 98 (4.3)

Tackles: 37 (1.6)



2012 could be judged as Michael Firrito’s best ever season. After being used as a lock-down defender on power forwards, a midfielder and a rebounding player off of half back, he was finally settled as a link in the chain for North Melbourne running the ball out of defence, combined with the added responsibility of stopping a dangerous forward. ‘Spud’ showed he could do both, shutting Michael Hurley out of the game in Round One while picking up 18 touches and taking five marks. A week later he amassed a career-high 33 possessions against GWS, along with six marks. Firrito’s ability to break the lines, as well as having enough bulk to hold his own in congested play, makes him a unique player and a player opposition clubs need to put work into. He was badly exposed in the Elimination Final against Jack Darling, a lowlight for Firrito in 2012. He should notch up his 200th game barring any serious injury next season, a terrific achievement for the former rookie.



#12 Lindsay Thomas

Age: 24

Games: 110

Score: 151.137



2012 Games: 19

2012 Score: 38.19

Disposals: 233 (12.3)

Marks: 61 (3.2)

Tackles: 65 (3.4)



After the most tumultuous year of his six year career in 2011, Thomas responded in the best possible way. Despite the goalkicking yips that haunted him for all of the previous year still briefly appearing every now and then, they were well and truly gone as the season went on as he kicked a career-high 38 goals and 19 behinds. Thomas was the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons on a couple of occasions, the first in Round Four when he slid into a contest and broke Gary Rohan’s leg in horrific circumstances. Thomas was branded as a dangerous player, but escaped penalty as he genuinely was contesting a loose ball on a slippery, wet day. The other was in Round 15 against West Coast, when he was punched in the groin by Luke Shuey, and was labelled as a stager. For the lowlights, there were plenty of highlights from LT, none more spectacular than his inside-out torpedo from the boundary line 50m out against Carlton in Round 16 that spun through for a goal. He also nailed plenty of set-shots at crucial moments in the game, such as against St Kilda, Adelaide and Collingwood. His pressure acts were fantastic as well, with his smother in the dying stages of the Round 17 game against Richmond an absolutely desperate act that helped North hang on four a four point win. An All-Australian berth is not beyond Thomas if he can improve in 2013.





#13 Leigh Adams

Age: 24

Games: 62

Score: 50.48



2012 Games: 18

2012 Score: 17.15

Disposals: 344 (19.1)

Marks: 50 (2.8)

Tackles: 59 (3.3)



It was a frustrating year for ‘Patch’. While his numbers look impressive, it did take until midway through the season for Adams to really start performing well. 37 possessions, six marks, four tackles and a goal against Greater Western Sydney in Round Two was one of few early-season highlights. However, when North’s season started to turn around, so did Adams’. 26 disposals, four marks and three goals against Adelaide in Round 13 was eye-catching, but his 32 touches, six marks, six tackles and two goals against St Kilda a week later were dominant. One of his two goals was derived from a terrific act of pressure on Sam Fisher in the goalsquare which drew plenty of cheers and praise from North supporters and commentators. Adams was the centre of a massive controversy in Round 16 against Carlton, when, in a tackle, he had his partially damaged shoulder twisted behind his back in a chicken-wing fashion, by Blues skipper Chris Judd. In a testament to how North Melbourne had matured and vowed not to be ‘bullied’ by other sides, Judd was dealt with swiftly by a group of young Roos. Adams would play a week later, putting his body on the line to save the game for North Melbourne in the dying seconds against Richmond, but would sustain another injury to his shoulder against Essendon in Round 20, ruling him out for the remainder of the season, including the Elimination Final.



#14 Gavin Urquhart

Age: 24

Games: 41

Score: 3.6



2012 Games: 0

2012 Score: 0

Disposals: 0

Marks: 0

Tackles: 0



It has been a huge fall from grace for Gavin Urquhart. From being one of North Melbourne’s rising stars a few years ago to being delisted, put on the rookie list and not playing a game in 2012, it has been a rocky road for the Queenslander. Urquhart was delisted on the 19th of September, so I wish Gavin all the best for the future, and hope another club gives him a crack, because he does have the talent.



#15 Luke Delaney

Age: 23

Games: 21

Score: 1.0



2012 Games: 13

2012 Score: 1.0

Disposals: 142 (10.9)

Marks: 48 (3.7)

Tackles: 23 (1.8)



The older of the Delaney brothers at North Melbourne would’ve been pleased to add to the total of eight games he played in his debut season in 2011, playing much of the year when Nathan Grima was out injured at the bookends of the 2012 campaign. He played on the likes of James Podsiadly, Jay Schulz, Sam Reid, Chris Dawes and Lance Franklin, but he was usually bested by the more skilful forwards, with Schulz and Franklin kicking a combined 20 goals when playing against him, amongst other North Melbourne defenders. He finished the season well, picking up 20 disposals, taking eight marks, laying four tackles and kicking a booming goal for the first of his career from outside 50 against Greater Western Sydney in Round 23, but was dropped to make way for Grima in the Elimination Final. Delaney must improve his football smarts to get regular game time in 2013, and needs to realise his limitations. He has potential to be the gorilla defender that North Melbourne are crying out for.



#16 Scott Thompson

Age: 26

Games: 93

Score: 3.7



2012 Games: 21

2012 Score: 0.3

Disposals: 387 (18.4)

Marks: 123 (5.9)

Tackles: 48 (2.3)



The popular defender enjoyed a career-best season in 2012, playing a very admirable role in the backline, whether stopping an opposition forward or providing plenty of rebound off the half back flank. Thompson’s tenacity around the ball was fierce as always, and his footy smarts are something to marvel at sometimes. Two of his season highlights were polar opposites, with a superb game restricting Collingwood forward Travis Cloke to no score in Round 21, and a career-best game disposal wise in Round 23 against the Giants, when he racked up 39 touches, while taking 13 marks. He also tried his hardest in Round Seven against the Western Bulldogs when most of his teammates weren’t, collecting 28 possessions and taking seven marks in the three goal loss. Thompson is an outside chance of claiming his first Syd Barker Medal, but two games missed through a back injury mid-season may hinder his chances.



#17 Nathan Grima

Age: 27

Games: 55

Score: 0.1



2012 Games: 13

2012 Score: 0.0

Disposals: 220 (16.9)

Marks: 88 (6.8)

Tackles: 31 (2.4)



Grima had yet another frustrating season cruelled by injury, but when he did make it out on the park, he was very good. Despite only playing 13 games in 2012, he was ranked fourth in one-percenters for the league, an outstanding result and a testament to his desperate style of play. Grima played in the opening NAB Cup match against Richmond but suffered an ankle injury, which kept him out until Round Eight against Port Adelaide. He was part of the defence that succumbed to Lance Franklin’s 13 goals in Round 10 against Hawthorn, but he responded from this to play a crucial part in North’s fightback in the second half of the season, with his shut-down role on Nick Riewoldt in Round 14 a highlight. He picked up career-high numbers against Gold Coast in Round 12, collecting 29 possessions, taking 12 marks and laying four tackles, however he, along with many of his teammates, went missing in the Elimination Final against West Coast. Grima will be desperate to play a full season in 2013, as he has never played over 17 games in a season before. Grima remains North Melbourne’s most important defender.



#18 Shaun Atley

Age: 20

Games: 39

Score: 5.6



2012 Games: 23

2012 Score: 2.2

Disposals: 422 (18.4)

Marks: 67 (2.9)

Tackles: 38 (1.6)



‘Zooooooooooooooooom!’ What was that, you ask? Just another blistering run out of defence from Shaun Atley, a new cult hero at North Melbourne. Taken at pick 18 in the 2010 Draft, Atley struggled to make an impact in his debut season of 2011. It all changed in 2012, when he became one of North Melbourne’s most important players. With a new position in the backline, Atley showed plenty of confidence taking the ball under his arm, sprinting out of defence and hitting a target upfield. Atley ranked seventh in the league for total bounces, highlighting how much run he generated. The kicking qualms that many recruiting staff had over him seemed to disappear, and he showed plenty of grunt, breaking free of tackles and turning on the afterburners, with a superb acceleration rate, perhaps the best in the AFL. His breakout game came in Round 13 against Adelaide, where he racked up 23 disposals and six marks in the upset victory. Atley is ensuring that the next generation of young North Melbourne supporters are still wearing the number 18 on their backs.



#19 Sam Wright

Age: 22

Games: 53

Score: 45.27



2012 Games: 21

2012 Score: 11.6

Disposals: 352 (16.8)

Marks: 91 (4.3)

Tackles: 41 (2.0)



Wright is fast becoming North Melbourne’s own ‘Mr Fix-It’. Moved into the backline in 2012, he performed well on dangerous opposition forwards, as well as stints through the midfield shutting down players like Brendon Goddard and Steve Johnson. He missed just two games in his fourth season of football, and looks set to build on this as he becomes one of more senior players in the Roos’ line-up. Still loves a goal, as seen by his match-sealing wobbler that went through the big sticks late in the game against St Kilda in Round 14. Wright immediately got in the face of Goddard, his opponent who had deliberately hit him behind the play earlier that quarter. He also drifted forward to boot four majors against the Brisbane Lions in Round Nine, an equal career-high. In Round 20 against Essendon, Wright played a vital role in securing a gutsy win, picking up a career-high 32 possessions, 12 marks and a game-sealing goal in the final quarter.