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

[bhoysdontcry67]

What a player man.

Feel so gutted he’s not going to be around anymore. Warrior.

 

[Horizons_00]

Nearly dragged our sorry asses across the line again,

This was the best but also saddest part. His last game and some of those clearances and those goals, just wow

Just shows how far off our midfield is

 

[discodaddy]

Shinboner through and through - Great career.

Thank you Ben

 

[Event Horizon]

With Cunners and jack going we are seeing a huge cultural change in front of our eyes. Let’s hope we don’t lose that special North feeling during this difficult time


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[Rod Stroker]

You know what would have been nicer than a hug?

a hot tip on a prime investment property with motivated sellers that's about to come on the market ?

 

[Righteo]

Great, great player. Possibly the most underrated of the 2010's.

 

[Billy Not Really]

Went out like a warrior dying on his shield giving it 100%, that’s 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

.

This hurts as much as when Boomer was forcibly retired.

 

[Gasometer]

You know what would have been nicer than a hug?

Apologising for the sorry state he left our list in these past 4 years.

 

[Gasometer]

Couldn’t make it due to a clash of commitments booked months back but watching the replay reminded me of the McCartney game minus the win

To use Commettis words from that night, “dreams did come true for you B10”

See you up the GV way sometime

 

[tazaa]

Selfishly, I was blessed and in the position to quickly chat to him and Ziebell on the ground before the game and congratulate him on a wonderful career.
He was definitely soaking it all in and I was really emotional we couldn’t get the win for him at the end.
He deserved it. He bloody deserved it. More than anyone else.

Cunners is a gem of a human. Has time for everyone. Teammates, staff, supporters. He is going to be missed around the club and his presence not being there is going to be felt.

Go well champion

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

So glad he showcased all his talents we were blessed to witness.

One of the great things about supporting our great club is that plenty of other campaigners don’t watch us. They thought Cunnington was purely a bash and crash type. They missed seeing the skill, timing and brilliance he played the game with. We’re very lucky.

Seeing a bloke who could shove blokes off with force wait amongst a pack of 5 others before waiting for a window to place a delicate handball to a teammate in space is something we may not see again.


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[Horace]

I don't want to think about him retiring, because it just brings the tears again.

So does anyone know how old his kids are? The oldest looks like a player already. How many years until we might see him playing as a father/son in the Royal Blue and White?

 

[Elite Master]

Brad Scott was in the NMFC players race after the game and gave Cunners a big embrace.

That was great to see. Love him or hate him but Brad was a big part of North and a big part of shaping Cunnington into the player we all know him to be.

 

[Devil Fish]

Best inside mid I've seen in 40 years? Possibly. Loved his strength & composure. Always felt comfortable when he had the ball in his hands. Never flustered. Never hurried. Looked like he had everything under control out there. Loved his set shots for goal as well - looked like he was just playing kick-to-kick in the backyard.
Rapt he went out with a more than solid performance yesterday.

 

[DocSholl]

Best inside mid I've seen in 40 years? Possibly. Loved his strength & composure. Always felt comfortable when he had the ball in his hands. Never flustered. Never hurried. Looked like he had everything under control out there. Loved his set shots for goal as well - looked like he was just playing kick-to-kick in the backyard.
Rapt he went out with a more than solid performance yesterday.

You would have written him off after his second year :stern look

 

[Dingster]

Thanks for the memories Cunners.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Miss him already.

Thank you for everything Ben, absolute warrior to the end.

 

[ferball]

That was great to see. Love him or hate him but Brad was a big part of North and a big part of shaping Cunnington into the player we all know him to be.

Yeah.

As much as we all shitcan Bard that was good and he deserves some respect for it. I'm sure Scott would have rather been a premiership coach with us and shared the dias with Cunners than whatever else happened too. Oh well..

 

[Themanbun]

So glad to see he went out with a very respectable game, showing if the hunger was still there, so was a career.

Between the back injuries and the cancer it feels like we haven't seen the best of him since 2019, so to see him go out with a bang was hecking awesome.

Onya Cunners.

 

[SMaturin]

I’ve never seen a retiring player as content as Ben with his decision.

 

[leighlee13]

Thanks for the memories Cunners.

That smile gets me everytime. Looks so happy and he so deserves it.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Man I totally forgot what younger Ben looked like until seeing those highlights from earlier in his career.
So happy he gets to go out playing well in his last game and the memory of kicking that goal and his teammates jumping on him will be a lasting one.
Wonder if we might target some more Vic Country kids in the next few years? Clarko certainly had a fair few in his time at the Hawks.

 

[SpiderBurton22]

Signed on with the mighty Warrnambool Blues.

 

[marklovesbeer]

Signed on with the mighty Warrnambool Blues.
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He will get 60 possessions for fun.

 

[SpiderBurton22]

He will get 60 possessions for fun.

And kick 100