Second year player Ben Cunnington is regarded by many as being one of the most professional young footballers in recent memory.

This is his blog written exclusively for kangaroos.com.au which gives readers a unique insight into what it’s like to play in one of the toughest competitions in the world.

If I’m going to be honest, getting dropped is the worst news you can get as a footballer aside from anything bad that comes out of the medical guys mouths.

But getting dropped last time around was not all bad for me. It might surprise you to read that, but I’d been played on a wing, off half-back…pretty much everywhere. The club drafted me as a midfielder and Brad was pretty keen to get me back to the VFL and have me play in the guts for a whole game and for a couple of weeks.

I looked at this whole scenario as a positive for my development and a chance to just play footy without all the AFL pressure. Don’t get me wrong, it still hurt to be told I was out of the side, but you always have to find a positive - especially someone my age. Being a competitor, like we all are at this level, it gives me motivation. A spot back in the senior team is something I will have to work hard for and strive to achieve.

The depth of the club is encouraging at the moment with names like Nathan Grima, Daniel Pratt, Hamish McIntosh, Cruize Garlett, Ben McKinley, Ben Ross and Gavin Urquhart all waiting for a call-p. It’s going to be tough to get back in but I’m up for the fight.

As much as I’d like to be dominating in the AFL, it’s actually harder than I ever thought imaginable. What I now know is that it takes time to get more fit, more confident, build self-belief, get stronger, not think too much and play on instinct.

That’s why it’s good to go back to the seconds and work on all these areas and then take them back into the AFL hopefully as a better player.

I’ve only played two games for North Ballarat so far this year. My most recent was the most enjoyable. I played in the midfield as Brad instructed me to and felt like I was able to play my natural game. I got a fair bit of the footy and kicked a couple of goals like I used to in my junior days. It gave me heaps of confidence and showed me that I can do it; it’s just a matter of taking it up a level. I spent a bit of time on Jordan Lewis and Rick Ladson from Hawthorn and felt pretty good about my output.

I heard Brad Scott say recently the difference between the AFL and VFL is enormous; I agree, mostly. It’s a little bit slower but the hits come just as hard and as often. But there are heaps of AFL listed players like me in the VFL these days so the gap is closing fast.

Playing out at Box Hill was one of the biggest challenges. Going from Etihad Stadium to that surface was a nightmare. It felt like I was running in knee-deep sand and ten minutes in to the game, I blew up big time. Coming off a bye didn’t really help and after the game my recovery took a lot longer than usual. My legs were heaps heavier and I copped a nasty corky on my right leg - it’s still badly bruised and is probably the worst one I’ve ever had.

I can’t wait to play this week against Coburg - there’s twelve North boys playing and it’s going to be great.

Archive:
My Game: Wing
My Game: Playing back
My Game: Pouring rain
My Game: Substitute