When Ben Cunnington was handed jumper No.10 for North Melbourne after he was drafted in 2009, little did he know he’d develop a special relationship with the man who helped make it one of the club’s most famous numbers.

“It was definitely a privilege when I got the opportunity to put on Anthony Stevens’ No.10 jumper,” he wrote in a column for The Sunday Herald Sun.

“I love it and have tried to uphold the tradition.”

Cunnington has played 210 games so far, and could chase down Stevens’ 292 games and become a 300-game player.

“Anthony has been a great mentor, someone to lean on not inside the four walls,” Cunnington said.

“It is funny, some people say we have a lot in common, but I've known Anthony a fair while and he's definitely not the quiet type.

“He loves a yarn and could talk underwater, so I don't know if we've got that comparison.

“We have a bit to do with each other, we were in partnership on a farm up in Benalla (Shinboner Beef Company) for a few years, until I got my own.

“We still catch up when we get the chance, just talk footy, or beef or life or whatever.”

Both have two Syd Barker Medals to their name and play with gritty determination befitting the famous Shinboner tag.

Cunnington says the day he was selected by North was a “blessing”.

“Before the draft I was bloody nervous about going interstate because I knew, if I had to, my career would be pretty short,” he said.

“It took me long enough to settle in Melbourne at the time, I’m not sure I would have been able to cope with the homesickness living interstate.

“But North Melbourne supported me a lot, found my strengths and weaknesses and worked towards my individual needs, even to this day.

“The transition from Scotty to Rhyce (Shaw) has been first class.

“Rhyce understands I need to get away from the game sometimes, do my own thing, but the role reverses on match days and I try to give my best to repay him with my performance.”

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