David Cuningham will play his first game for Carlton since 2021

Carlton coach Michael Voss has made a bold selection call as his team looks to end a six-game losing streak.

Carlton coach, Michael Voss has called on David Cuningham for something a ‘bit different’. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Carlton coach Michael Voss has confirmed a 731-day absence from the AFL will end on Sunday for David Cuningham, who will add something a “bit different” to the struggling Blues.

Looking to end a six-match losing streak when they face the Gold Coast Suns, the Blues will play Cuningham for the first time since round 9, 2021.

Cuningham has endured a raft of injuries to his knee, calf and shoulder but earnt a call-up after back-to-back solid outings in the VFL.

Voss said Cuningham’s return was sheer reward for effort.

“What I can confirm is David Cuningham is going to play,” Voss said on Friday.

“He’s had a long time out of the game, and for him to be able to go through what he’s gone through in the last two years … we feel he’s ready to go.

This Sunday.

David Cun𝒊𝒏gham.

— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) June 16, 2023

“He had a really good game last week … he’ll add something a bit different to what we’ve had in there recently.”

It will be the first time in more than four years that Carlton’s first-round draft picks from 2015 – Jacob Weitering, Harry McKay, Charlie Curnow and Cuningham – play in the same team.

Carlton fans were vicious on the players after last week’s loss to arch rival Essendon which dropped them to 15th on the ladder, their finals chances extinguished.

After several players declared this week the group was as unified as ever amid talk of unrest, Voss, who has been guaranteed his job by club officials, declared the group was in for the fight together

“We have absolutely felt that and that’s been something since the start of the year that has been a big focus for us,” he said.

“When we talk about creating the environment, that’s the environment that we want to keep cultivating.

Carlton coach Michael Voss says his players are unified. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“What we want to see is that full transfer, so the environment that we’re trying to provide, can we do that out on the ground, under pressure, and that’s something we haven’t got quite right so far but it won’t stop us encouraging the environment so hopefully it carries to game day.

“It’s not going to be on the back of one person. We’ve talked about having that squad mentality, we’ve talked about leaning on each other and teammates and it’s going to take everyone to make sure we stick together and that’s still the focus for us.”

Having conceded last week captain and Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps was out of form, and with questions about his leadership. Voss said the skipper remained incredibly “valuable” to the battling Blues.

“‘Crippa’ has so much experience in this area and developed enormously as a leader and a player over time,” he said.

“He’s had a bit of a rough spot over the last month but he’s so valuable to us and he brings so many other intangible things to us.

“The players love playing with him, so if he keeps bringing that energy, that leadership, that’s what we’re after, because some of those intangible things are really important to us.”

Originally published as David Cuningham will play his first game for Carlton since 2021