Ben Cunnington will retire from the AFL this Saturday, virtually a 12 months to the day since he returned to the senior facet after beating most cancers for the second time.
The two-time North Melbourne greatest and fairest winner will retire after taking part in Essendon on Saturday at Marvel Stadium.
Cunnington is a revered determine at Arden St and, together with Alastair Clarkson’s return to teaching the workforce final weekend, North now have ample motivation for upsetting their fierce rivals.
The Kangaroos are on an 18-game shedding streak.
Cunnington, 32, has performed 237 video games for North, however he has been out of the senior facet since taking part in the primary eight matches this season.
He made an emotional comeback in spherical 22 final season after recovering from a second bout of testicular most cancers.
Cunnington was sidelined for greater than a 12 months due to his sickness and wanted surgical procedure and chemotherapy.
“I couldn’t be more proud of what I’ve achieved on and off the field in the 14 years at this level,” Cunnington advised teammates on Tuesday morning.
“From the moment the club drafted me, it was a dream come true as we were surrounded by interstate clubs on draft night.
“Then to stroll right into a membership that suited my persona, and allowed me to be myself, I could not have requested for a greater recipe to get the perfect out of myself.”
Cunnington said in the wake of his comeback, he had lost the desire to keep playing in the AFL.
“I’m proud and grateful of what I’ve overcome prior to now few years and for the membership to offer me the perfect likelihood and alternative to play AFL footy once more,” he stated.
“But I felt I misplaced my starvation as soon as I returned, my perspective in life was too nice. Then once I fell out of the senior workforce, I struggled to have the motivation or drive to get again in.
“That’s when I knew it wasn’t fair on myself or you blokes that I continued on next year without being able to give my 100 per cent effort, especially when there are hungry young kids out there that would do anything for the opportunity and to help this team get better.”
At his peak, Cunnington was one of many AFL’s most dependable midfielders and he racked up an unimaginable 32 contested possessions in a 2018 match in opposition to Richmond.
Also on Tuesday, Essendon ruckman Andrew Phillips introduced he would retire on the finish of the season.
Phillips has performed 79 video games at GWS, Carlton and Essendon, a with a career-high 17 this season on the Bombers.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
