The Score: Ben Cunnington goes to extreme lengths to avoid media

North Melbourne hard man Ben Cunnington is notorious for avoiding the bright lights, so when the Roos had an open day for media, there was always a chance he’d sneak away. Here’s how he did it.

Ben Cunnington has gone to extreme lengths to avoid the media.

North Melbourne star Ben Cunnington has gone to extreme lengths to keep out of sight during the team’s open media session this week.

There was speculation that Cunnington, who is notorious for avoiding the press, would find a way to escape the all-in media call ahead of the Good Friday game.

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Ben Cunnington has gone to extreme lengths to avoid the media.

As the players left the track to face the scrum of journos, Cunnington quietly slipped out the back, going through the construction going on at Arden St and through a side door.

North’s media manager Heath O’Loughlin was alerted shortly after about the missing player and found Cunnington hiding in an ice bath.

ANOTHER OUT

More rumblings down at AFL headquarters with another departure from its media arm.

Reporter Ben Guthrie, the brother of Geelong pair Cam and Zach, has packed up his desk and is heading to the AFLPA.

This comes after long-time head of content Matthew Pinkney was given his marching orders as the league signalled a change in direction of the AFL website.

Others to leave of recent times include Matt Thompson to the Channel 7 newsroom while Nick Bowen quit to join Channel 7 publicity.

And we also hear there might be yet another restructure of the AFL’s media department just a couple of months after the new line-up was announced.

Tiger Woods was named in the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

STARS DOT TIME 100

MASTERS champion Tiger Woods and Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka have been named in the Time 100, the magazine’s annual list of the most influential people in the world.

Other sports stars to make the cut include LA Lakers icon LeBron James, US women’s soccer player Alex Morgan, Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah and track and field star Caster Semenya.

The timing of Woods’ first major since 2008 and his fifth Green Jacket ensured his elevation on the list with singer Justin Timberlake penning a tribute on the 15-time major winner.

“Over the past few years, Tiger rehabbed rigorously from all the surgeries, and returned to the top of the game. While pundits doubted he’d ever win again, Tiger’s commitment never wavered. The thing we don’t always appreciate is the patience,” Timberlake wrote.

Osaka is the current world No.1 female player and has won the past two Grand Slams including the Australian Open in January.

Naomi Osaka had a stunning year in tennis. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Former champion Chris Evert said about Osaka: “Some people want her to embrace a single identity. She’s more concerned with just being herself. No one represents our more globalised, multicultural future better than this honest, polite, self-deprecating tennis life force, a potential champion for years to come.”

James was cited by Time not only for his basketball achievements, but his presence in the community.

Salah’s global popularity surged last year when he enjoyed a breakthrough season with Liverpool, scoring 44 goals in the 2017-18 campaign and helping the English Premier League side reach the Champions League final.

“Mo Salah is a better human being than he is a football player. And he’s one of the best football players in the world,” writes comedian and Liverpool fan John Oliver in his TIME’s dedication to the player.

Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah has won glowing character references. Picture: AFP

THE WHISPER

Is the lid on an internal power struggle involving the coaching panel of an under-pressure club set to blow? We hear the old guard might be gathering the numbers.