The midfielder was a late withdrawal from the North Melbourne side in Round 13 against Fremantle due to private 'family reasons' and has now revealed the details behind his family's heartbreaking experience.
Cunnington's father Alan, a dairy farmer from Timboon, was flown to Geelong hospital in a critical condition after a freak accident on the farm.
"It started a couple of months back. He got crushed by a cow. He didn't think much of it at the time, but he had internal bleeding," Cunnington explained.
"Being a farmer and as tough as Dad is, he didn't say anything and didn't go to hospital or anything like that. He carried on and a couple of months later he got a little nick (cut) which created an infection and just from there it went downhill quickly.
"...the infection got into his bloodstream and he was just going in and out of [consciousness]..."
Preparing to travel interstate with his team-mates, Cunnington's life was turned upside-down after an unexpected phone call.
"I was sitting in the house waiting to go to Perth. I knew he was sick with gastro...we presumed," he said.
"...Mum sort of said, 'Dad's not well, he's been flown down (to Geelong).' It hit me, but I never thought it was going to be what it was."
Alan needed an urgent life-saving operation and Cunnington put his travel plans on hold.
"The nurses and everything said it went well. We were pretty happy the operation went well and all that, and I'd booked my flight for 5 o'clock the next day to come across and play in Perth.
"The next morning me and mum and the kids spoke to the surgeon, and he gave us the details that dad was in a coma, we didn't know how long it was going to be. He was on life support."
Cunnington spoke about his father's recovery from illness, their special bond and the challenges of his return to football in a compelling interview.
PRESS PLAY above to watch | Cunnington on football | YouTube
