Australian Football

Son of Hawthorn premiership player John ‘Jack’ Cunningham, John Cunningham played briefly with Port Melbourne (seven games) and Geelong (two games) before commencing with Norwood in 1996. A first rate rover who liked to kick a goal, he won the Redlegs’ best and fairest award on debut but then sustained a serious knee injury just prior to the 1997 season. Not expected to resume that year, he made a stunning recovery which saw him chosen to play finals after just a single reserves match. He ended up winning the Jack Oatey Medal for best afield after Norwood’s grand final annihilation of Port Adelaide.

When Cunningham retired in 2003 he had played 108 games and booted 120 goals, totals which would have been higher had he not fallen victim to persistent knee and hamstring problems. Twice chosen in the prestigious Advertiser Team of the Year he also played inter-league football for the SANFL on one occasion.

After retiring as a player Cunningham coached amateur club Pembroke Old Scholars for a time.

Author - John Devaney