Ben CUNNINGTON

2017 Digest:   Clearance king bubbled along like he does and appears ready to attack the season. Suspended for Round 1.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1		–
2	Geel	Massive. Ability to win clearances and bring others into the game by hand caused the Cats issues all match.	8
3	GWS	Poise in traffic is Pendlebury-like. Gradually overwhelmed by energetic opponents, however, and 21 possessions a bit light.	5
4	WB	Clearance machine (10) racked them up all day and was probably close to best afield. Added 33 disposals.	8
5	Frem	Superb in congestion. Won 10 clearances among his 29 disposals and one goal.	9
6	GCS	Started on Ablett but was powerless to stop him and then didn’t particularly shine anywhere else.	3
7	Adel	Got the ball rolling with Roos’ first goal. Strong ball winner in tight (10+ clearances) against quality opponents. Great outing.	8
8	Syd	Looked to be head to head with Kennedy early. Won clearances but not as damaging as he can be.	6
9	Melb	Despite injuring a knee he was superb, particularly after halftime; eight clearances and 17 contested possessions.	8
10	Carl	Salvaged a poor afternoon with some vital touches in the last term. A big reason why North got going late.	5
11	Rich	Probably played his worst game of the year. Only 12 effective disposals and 40 metres gained.	4
12		Bye.
13	StK	Of 13 disposals to half time only one was a kick. Finished with 32 touches, but didn't gain enough meterage.	6
14	WB	Clearance machine came to fore in the final term where he booted two goals that nearly stole game from the Dogs.	8
15		Suspended.
16	Frem	Hard worker at the coalface in midfield battle. Had 28 touches at 86 percent.	7
17	Port	Kangaroo’s best player with 11 clearances and eight tackles, rarely gets tackled and always keeps the footy moving forward.	8
18	Ess	Didn’t get enough of it and just as well. More than half of his 18 disposals were ineffective.	3
19	Melb	Good in close and works hard defensively. Stepped up a gear when needed in final term.	7
20	Coll	Dour midfielder was always in the midst of things. Nothing to write home to about but provided his usual output.	6
21	Haw	With the skipper missing he needed to do more. Only 10 touches to ¾ time and well held.	4
22	StK	North’s best and was a prolific possession winner with 36 by day’s end.	8
23	Bris	Quieter than last week, but finished with a very nice goal and made his contribution inside packs.	6

2016 Season

1	Adel	Huge game. Grabbed 10 clearances and 23 contested possessions in the middle.	8
2	Bris	Got his share of the footy and tackled well.	6
3	Melb	15 of his 20 possessions were contested. One of the Roos’ best in hustle and bustle.	7
4	Frem	Provided the grunt in the middle of the ground and let others give the flash.	5
5	GCS	Did not use the footy well.	4
6	WB	Good in the clinches and clapped on plenty of tackles.	6
7	StK	North’s best with constant grunt in contested situations and a major reason for win.	8
8	Ess	Contained in middle in a rare quiet one. One of few Roos to play better after half time.	5
9	Carl	Very quiet first half with just six possessions. Raised his game a tad but still only fair.	5
10	Syd	Roos’ best grabbed six clearances and 16 contested possessions. Absorbed pressure.	8
11	Rich	Relished his workload in tight packs and only stopped briefly by medical attention.	8
12	Geel	Copped a knock to his knee early in game and while soldiered on he was not right.	3
13		Quad.
14	Adel	Won eight clearances and 16 contested possessions. Ferocious at the ball.	7
16	WCE	Eight of his 19 touches were clearances.	7
17	Port	Strove hard without causing normal damage.	5
18	Coll	Plenty of heavy work in packs at start was crucial.	7
19	StK	Revelled in endless stoppages and had eight clearances.	8
20	WB	Strong, professional game in middle.	7
21	Haw	Worked into the game at times for four clearances. Steady without starring.	6
22	Syd	Best work done at stoppages with eight clearances. Also laid eight tackles.	6
23	GWS	Battled with Ward in hard-headed contest for much of the night. Just three kicks.	3
EF	Adel	Nine clearances to be one of the Roos’ better contributors.	7

2015 Season

1	Adel	The Roos’ best with 12 contested possessions and four clearances.	7
2	Bris	Got plenty of the ball and had high handball to kick ratio.	5
3	Port	Just five first-half touches, improved a bit in second half but wasn’t his night.	4
4	Geel	Five clearances in first term and eight for match. Handy without starring.	6
5	Haw	Worked hard in midfield and spent some time in attack. OK.	6
6	Rich	Five clearances and 13 contested possessions kept him involved in contest.	7
7	Ess	Eight clearances and 12 contested possessions kept pressure on Bombers.	7
8	Frem	One of North’s best and 18 of his 24 touches were contested.	6
9	Coll	Contested ball wining machine in opening half. 25 possessions.	7
10	WCE	Clearance (eight) work solid and made presence felt at ground level.	6
11	Syd	Won 10 clearances and worked hard to provide a presence.	7
12	GWS	Good worker around the stoppages to help get ball going forward.	6
14	GCS	13 clearances and two first half goals. Solid.	7
15	Geel	Provided great drive and four clearances.	6
16	Ess	Started in attack and appeared hampered by a leg issue but soldiered on.	6
17	Bris	Two goals in last quarter only served to underline his productive night.	7
18	Carl	Not overly prolific but important with what he did.	6
19	Melb	Nine clearances, a ripping late goal and a mountain of ball. Key to the victory.	8
20	StK	One who gave a four-quarter performance.	7
21	Frem	Lot of the ball in first term and set up a big day.	7
22	WB	Slow start and not a big say overall.	4
23		Knee.
EF	Rich	Slow start but motored into the game as North made their move.	6
SF	Syd	In the thick of it from go to whoa. Great worker.	7
PF	WCE	Important around stoppages until West Coast started to dominate territory.	6

2014 Season

1	Ess	Good start but heavy knock forced him off briefly in third term.	6
2	WB	Busy effort with team-high six clearances. Also four inside 50s.	5
3	Port	The difference in the clinches with 19 contested poss. and nine clearances.	8
4	Syd	With 11 clearances and 10 tackles, he was critical to the victory.	8
5	Coll	Game-high 10 clearances and work-rate good but often under pressure.	7
6	Frem	Tackled and contested hard around the ball as always.	6
7	GCS	Tireless worker around the contests. One of North’s few shining lights.	7
9	Bris	Always busy and resourceful.	7
10	Geel	Not the influence around ball (five clearances) he has had previously.	5
11	WCE	Continued in excellent form in the middle	8
12	Rich	Not as prolific as some weeks but had eight clearances and laid seven tackles	6
13	Adel	Six tackles, four clearances, four inside-50s and missed a sitter.	6
14	Melb	Not his best game. Restricted to four clearances but laid five tackles.	5
15	Bris	Started on Rockliff and exerted some influence.	7
16	Haw	Quiet game overall and well down on early season form.	3
17	StK	Weller shadowed him and limited his influence.	5
18	Carl	Quiet first half but important goal starting third term and was everywhere.	4
19	Geel	One of few Roos to produce a steady four-quarter effort. Eight tackles.	7
20	GWS	Best afield with 28 touches, three goals. Flourished in Greenwood’s absence.	8
21	WB	Quiet first half, but went into attack later and kicked four late goals.	6
22	Adel	Consistent midfielder a key component.	6
23	Melb	Did most of his work by hand – 12 handballs. Solid worker in tight.	6
EF	Ess	Seven clearances a highlight of another solid midfield performance.	7
SF	Geel	Solid in middle in first half and maintained steady productivity.	6
PF	Syd	Battled manfully against the tide to grab seven clearances. Efficiency down.	6
GF		–

2013 Season

1	Coll	Strong in packs and had plenty of clearances.	5
2	Geel	Disappointing. Only a handful of effective disposals and zero inside-50s.	3
3	Syd	Hard at the contest and polished in what he did. Quieter in second half.	7
4	Bris	Gave support to likes of Wells and Ziebell..	5
5	Haw	Only five kicks in 22 disposals so didn’t catch the eye.	5
6	Port	Worked tirelessly on the ball.	7
7	WB	Solid and steady part of midfield mix.	6
8	WCE	Constant driving force in packs and North’s best for the night.	7
9	Adel	Kicked three goals and gathered 11 contested possessions. Handy.	7
10	StK	Plenty of touches in middle.	7
11	GCS	Didn't stop trying and North's best on the night.	7
13		Personal leave.
14		Personal leave.
15	Rich	Good around the contests with five clearances and a goal before subbed out.	5
16	Bris	Caused problems for the Lions in attack but only sparingly.	5
17	Carl	Strong in pack contests, took some good marks.	7
18	Melb	Big game with big numbers topped off with two handy goals. 20 CPs.	8
19	Geel	Won 11 cont poss and four clearances but didn’t have an inside-50.	5
20	Adel	Excellent inside work provided impetus to North comeback.	7
21	Ess	Hard worker inside and generated moves all through.	7
22	Haw	In everything in the first half before drifting out of the action.	6
23	Coll	Eight clearances and kicked a goal in a key performance.	7
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

1	Ess	Not a big factor.	4
2	GWS	Solid all through.	7
3	Geel	Quiet day for him and was subbed off after 12 disposals.	3
4	Syd	Made the most of his opportunities and won the ball well.	6
5	GCS	Productive night in the midfield and looked dangerous up forward.	7
6	WCE	Kicked three goals from 15 possessions. Was hard.	7
7	WB	Kicked one nice goal but had so little ball he was not a factor.	3
8	Port	Disappointing afternoon from the former No.5 draft pick.	3
9	Bris	Despite general North dominance was generally quiet in first half.	3
10	Haw	Tackled hard (10) but didn’t win enough ball for a midfielder.	4
12	GCS	Better second half after a slow start.	5
13	Adel	Quiet first half. Shin injured to him being subbed off third term.	2
14	VFL	Huge game. 34 possessions, 11 clearances, four goals.	–
16	VFL	Big outing with 24 disposals and three goals.	–
17	Rich	Did enough with five clearances and three inside-50s to keep his spot.	6
18	Melb	Growing in confidence, laid eight tackles and had 14 contested disposals.	7
19	WB	In and under performance helped midfield get on top after half time.	7
20	Ess	Started in midfield and had good first quarter. Good at clearances.	6
21	Coll	Tremendous with game-high 11 tackles as well as collecting 24 possessions.	7
22	Frem	Ran with Mundy at start . Tackled hard and was strong in contests.	5
23	GWS	Another to impress, topping 30 disposals for the first time this year.	6
EF	WCE	Never found space but to his credit he battled it out all day.	6