He’d be disappointed’: Kangaroos veteran subbed out, told hard truth

A Kangaroos veteran was pulled off during his team’s loss on Friday and has been given a hard truth by coach Alastair Clarkson.

Ben Cunnington was subbed out of the match.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson admitted it was “hard” subbing out club champion Ben Cunnington during the third quarter of their Good Friday loss to Carlton at Marvel Stadium.

Cunnington had a day he would rather forget, racking up just 10 disposals and failing to register a clearance against the Blues, and Clarkson insisted he was the right man to exit the game.

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“He’s a clearance beast and we need him to be getting clearances for our side and he’d had none to halfway through the third quarter so he’d be disappointed in that,” Clarkson said.

“Cunners just didn’t have a great day so we just can’t keep blokes on the field if they’re not playing their role to their capability, then we need to make a change.

Ben Cunnington was subbed out of the match.

“He’d be disappointed in that, but we just needed to try something different. Hugh Greenwood came on and he was able to give us a little spark in that area. Cunners just didn’t have a great day.

“We just can’t keep blokes on the field if they’re not playing their role to their capability then we need to make a change and that’s the way we went.

“He took it in the right manner like you’d expect him to. Hopefully he’ll be better for it next week.

“It’s hard when they’re strong, experienced players like that who are so proud and they can turn it around themselves quite often.”

The two-time best and fairest winner could be seen in discussion with Clarkson as the senior coach explained the decision to sub him out for Hugh Greenwood.

At the other end of the experience spectrum, No.3 pick Harry Sheezel starred again for the Kangaroos, racking up a game-high 37 disposals.

Ben Cunnington of the Kangaroos on the bench after being subbed out. Pic: Michael Klein

The performance saw him break the all-time record for most disposals after four games (127), eclipsing Geelong star Mark Bairstow’s 36-year-old mark (121).

“He’s a special talent,” Clarkson said.

“Harry’s so polished ... his start to his career has been first class to be fair, but we’d like another couple of him.”

And while North probably won’t be able to clone another Sheezel in their Arden Street lab in time for this season, they could get the next best thing in No.4 pick George Wardlaw who is close to making his senior debut in “the next few weeks”.

“There’s such a temptation to say, ‘Listen, he’s a high draft pick get him in’, but you want to set these kids up to have success when they do come into the side,” Clarkson said.

North will welcome back the suspended Griffin Logue next week for their clash with the Brisbane Lions, and he could be joined down back by Ben McKay (foot).

Meanwhile, Clarkson was optimistic that key forward Nick Larkey would be available after battling a hip complaint against Carlton.