Ben Cunnington (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Ben Cunnington is an Australian rules football
er for the North Melbourne Football Club
in the Australian Football League
. Cunnington was drafted to North Melbourne with the 5th selection in the 2009 AFL Draft
.
Cunnington is considered an inside midfielder who is renowned for his ferocious attack on the ball and his repeat efforts. He is a good mark who can play across half forward and is also a very accurate set shot at goal. He is likened to current AFL players Jimmy Bartel
and Brad Sewell
in his playing style. Cunnington is also a strong admirer of family friend Jonathon Brown. Cunnington completed his year 12 studies at Timboon P-12 College.
Morrish Medal
where he averaged 23 disposals (11 contested) and six marks. Cunnington missed the 2009 AFL Draft Camp through minor injuries.
Geelong Falcons
regional manager Michael Turner
described Cunnington as the most professional player I have seen in 15 years of TAC Cup.
with the 5th overall selection of the 2009 AFL Draft
from the Geelong Falcons
.
Cunnington would go on to play out the remainder of the season averaging 14 disposals, 4 tackles and taking 43 marks over the 18 games. He kicked his first goal against Brisbane
in Round 11 (his only goal for the season).
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for the North Melbourne Football Club
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. Cunnington was drafted to North Melbourne with the 5th selection in the 2009 AFL Draft
2009 AFL Draft
The 2009 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2009/10 Australian Football League off-season. These were the Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .- Trades :In the lead up to the trade week many high profile players such as...
.
Cunnington is considered an inside midfielder who is renowned for his ferocious attack on the ball and his repeat efforts. He is a good mark who can play across half forward and is also a very accurate set shot at goal. He is likened to current AFL players Jimmy Bartel
Jimmy Bartel
James 'Jimmy' Bartel is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League . A midfielder at and , Bartel is a Brownlow Medallist, two-time All-Australian, and was part of the Cats' AFL premiership-winning teams in 2007, 2009 and 2011, being named the...
and Brad Sewell
Brad Sewell
Brad Sewell is an Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League . He was selected with pick number 6 in the Rookie Draft in 2003...
in his playing style. Cunnington is also a strong admirer of family friend Jonathon Brown. Cunnington completed his year 12 studies at Timboon P-12 College.
Junior career
Cunnington's junior football highlights included earning NAB AFL U18 Championships All-Australian honours and finishing runner up in the TAC CupTAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
Morrish Medal
Morrish Medal
The Morrish Medal is an Australian rules football award.Formerly awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the VFL Under 19 competition , since 1992 the award has been given to the best player in the Victorian TAC Cup Under 18 competition.The Morrish Medal was named in honour of Tom Morrish, a...
where he averaged 23 disposals (11 contested) and six marks. Cunnington missed the 2009 AFL Draft Camp through minor injuries.
Geelong Falcons
Geelong Falcons
The Geelong Falcons are a junior Australian rules football representative club in the TAC Cup competition, Victoria, Australia.The club takes in talented junior players from the Geelong, Colac and Warrnambool regions in order to groom them for AFL selection...
regional manager Michael Turner
Michael Turner (Australian rules footballer)
Michael Turner is a former Australian rules footballer who played 245 games for the Geelong Football Club in the VFL from 1974 to 1988....
described Cunnington as the most professional player I have seen in 15 years of TAC Cup.
AFL career
Cunnington was drafted by North MelbourneNorth Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
with the 5th overall selection of the 2009 AFL Draft
2009 AFL Draft
The 2009 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2009/10 Australian Football League off-season. These were the Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .- Trades :In the lead up to the trade week many high profile players such as...
from the Geelong Falcons
Geelong Falcons
The Geelong Falcons are a junior Australian rules football representative club in the TAC Cup competition, Victoria, Australia.The club takes in talented junior players from the Geelong, Colac and Warrnambool regions in order to groom them for AFL selection...
.
2010
Cunnington made his debut in Tasmania against Hawthorn in Round 5 of the 2010 season. He gathered 12 disposals helping North Melbourne to a 12 point win and their second victory of the season.Cunnington would go on to play out the remainder of the season averaging 14 disposals, 4 tackles and taking 43 marks over the 18 games. He kicked his first goal against Brisbane
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
in Round 11 (his only goal for the season).