Ben Cunnington joins Warrnambool Blues in the Hampden league

One of the biggest names to retire from the AFL this year will return to country footy next season, where he will play against his junior club. Here’s how he landed at a new team.

Warrnambool hopes the arrival of Ben Cunnington can help lift the club towards success once again.

The former North Melbourne captain is returning to the Hampden league after calling time on his AFL career this year.

Cunnington is no stranger to one of country footy’s major leagues after previously playing for hometown club, Cobden.

It’s a massive coup for the Blues who are one of the league’s powerhouses, winning the most flags in the competition’s history.

Although they have not tasted success in the last decade.

“Every club this side of Geelong understood that there was a well known footballer coming back to town,” Warrnambool Blues coach Dan O’Keefe said.

“Ben went through the process which gave a lot of clubs the opportunity to speak to him. He was very respectful in that way and didn’t lead anyone on.

“We were the lucky club at the end of the road that were able to acquire him.”

Former North Melbourne player Ben Cunnington is returning to the Hampden league next year. Photo by Michael Klein.

O’Keefe said the club’s focus on having a strong family environment won Cunnington over.

“We were pretty lucky at our club we had one or two families who are connected with Ben,” he said.

“Ben’s values are aligned with being family oriented, which are on his agenda. We’ve provided lots of examples of how we’ve improved that immensely this season.

“That was one thing we’re proud of at a club. There’s a lot of players his age that are at our football club who have kids and what not.

“We’re also very lucky to have our home base as the Reid Oval.

“The surface is at VFL level, if not higher. It helped the persuasion as well.”

Ben Cunnington celebrates a goal in his final game for North Melbourne. Photo by Michael Klein.

O’Keefe said adding Cunnington helped the Blues in their premiership ambitions.

“We made some massive steps to that before Ben signings,” O’Keefe said.

“A lot of those examples we shared with Ben, which he really enjoyed hearing about.

“He certainly adds value to the journey we are on. When I was growing up as a junior, our senior and junior and netball clubs were always in grand finals.

“I’ve got ambitions to be able to get the club to that sort of deal.

“Our club is certainly on the right path and Ben has certainly provided some more buzz around the place that is for sure.”

O’Keefe revealed Cunnington’s main role would be in the midfield but the Blues could also use him in another positions.

“He kicked 10 goals here in this competition as a junior before he was drafted,” he said.

“We’d be silly to think we’re not going to be play him in the midfield and he’s keen to do it.

“His stoppage work and his contested work will stand out.

“There’s no doubt we’ll see him upfront as well and hopefully hitting the scoreboard.”

Originally published as Ben Cunnington joins Warrnambool Blues in the Hampden league