On the eve of his 150th game, Ben Cunnington has opened up on the impact his young son has had on his life.
Xavier, born late last year, has enabled Cunnington to have a fresh perspective, both on and off the field.
“Being a father has been massive,” Cunnington told NMFC.com.au.
“It’s been another game changer for me, to play better footy than I have been in the past.”
Although Xavier has only been in Cunnington’s life for his last four AFL games, the difference has been profound already.
“You get a different perspective, I know we haven’t had the best start to the year but when you go home and see your little boy give you a little smile it just changes you,” he said.
“You don’t forget about footy, but it allows your mind to switch away real quick and then come game day next week you’re fresh and mentally ready to go.
“My biggest thing I’m excited for (in game 150) is to run out with my little boy. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Cunnington’s milestone comes at a time where he’s recaptured the form which made him a Syd Barker Medalist in 2014.
After a tough 2016, the 25-year-old has rebounded strongly this season. He’s averaged almost 28 disposals and more than eight clearances a game.
“2016 I felt my year (I) was a bit complacent. I didn’t improve the way I’d like to, at the end of year meeting my biggest thing was to have a big pre-season and really set myself up for 2017, ” Cunnington said.
“That started day 1 of the off-season with Jona (Segal, head nutrition and conditioning coach), I did every running session with him and then came back, dropped a few kilos and felt really good.
“Since then my running game has picked up and my mindset; I feel like I’m in a good headspace and attacking the year hoping to have a big output. ”
For Cunnington, the journey to 150 games all started more than seven years ago at the 2009 National Draft.
While North had the fifth pick, it was surrounded by interstate sides – Fremantle at four, Sydney at six, West Coast at seven and Port Adelaide at eight and nine.
“I was a little bit nervous, excited but obviously nervous,” Cunnington explained of the night.
“(I) knew I was going to be around that top 10 mark but there were a few interstate teams around about that area.
“So (I was) a little bit nervous about having to go interstate but excited to get drafted obviously.
“Once North read out my name it was a dream come true, not only to go to North Melbourne but to stay in Melbourne in my home state and go from there.”
Cunnington had made his name with a string of impressive performance for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup.
Leading into the draft, he was described as ‘the Jimmy Bartel and Brad Sewell of the TAC Cup’ by The Herald Sun, and he was able to learn from a highly respected former AFL star.
“I had Buddha (Garry) Hocking as my coach. I played under him for a couple of years and he’s a great of the game so he had a fair bit of experience and a fair bit of knowledge to share on,” Cunnington said.
“Growing up, I tried to do all I can to allow my body to compete the best it could each week.
“I was pretty big on my recovery and that sort of thing. Each week I was trying to prepare and do all I can to play well but to set myself up and get drafted.”
It took some time for Cunnington to get acquainted to the AFL level.
Several quiet games in his first two seasons, with no standout performances, led to some external, perhaps unfair criticism.
“Early on in your career, you do read and listen to a heap of opinions and comments early,” Cunnington admitted.
“You do probably take it in a little bit and it does hit home. Everyone’s going to have weaknesses and areas to improve so I was aware of mine.”
Halfway through 2012, Cunnington was omitted and sent to the VFL in an attempt to recapture what made him such a highly regarded junior.
It was the ability to get back to basics, combined with the confidence instilled by Brad Scott, which allowed Cunnington to find his best form.
“Looking back, my first couple of years, I probably struggled a bit too much getting caught up in playing my role for the team,” he said.
“I was happy with doing that and not really going for the ball. I was probably a bit scared to make mistakes and happy to block out for the guys like (Andrew) Swallow and (Daniel) Wells to go to work.
“Scotty dropped me a couple of times and said to go back and play footy and play the way you got drafted. He showed huge faith in me, stuck by me and handled it the best way he could have.
“I went back to the VFL and just played footy, went for the footy with my inside game; clearances, contested ball.
“Then when I came back into the team I tried to do that exact thing.”
Jack Ziebell’s suspension in Round 16 of 2012 gave Cunnington an opening to get back into the senior side. He took it, averaged 24 disposals a game for the rest of the year and never looked back.
2014 brought another milestone. In a team which made the preliminary final, Cunnington played every game and was rewarded with his first Syd Barker Medal.
Unsurprisingly the Roo regards that year as his best so far.
“It was a good year. There were a few other guys – Todd Goldstein, Levi Greenwood – that had really good years as well,” Cunnington added.
“Making a prelim was definitely big and to cap it off at the end of the year was an honour but probably more one I’ll look at the end of my career.
“The first finals win at the MCG against Essendon, that’s probably my biggest highlight. Just to play finals footy, that’s what we’re here for. Especially when you win in front of a massive crowd, it’s unreal.”
