Cunnington was aiming to play a full season and showed good form for parts of this year.
But manager Alastair Clarkson replaced him in the loss to Carlton on April 7 and warned that his team could not afford to bring underperforming players, a message he also shared with Cunnington.
“We just can’t keep guys on the pitch if they’re not playing their role to their ability, so we need to make a change and we did,” Clarkson said after the Carlton game.
Cunnington had 27 turnovers in each of the next two games, but only had seven touches before being substituted again in the final round.
He was not listed as one of the emergencies, so it seems likely that he will play in the VFL.
And Collingwood has lost another great man to injury, with Billy Frampton straining his groin on Wednesday.
“I have bad news, he’s out,” Magpies coach Craig McRae told SEN on Thursday.
“He has a minor groin injury, he will miss a couple of weeks.”
RICHMOND
B: N.Broad, D.Grimes – C, N.Balta
HB: D.Rioli, N.Vlastuin, L.Baker
C: K. McIntosh, T. Taranto, J. Ross
HF: R.Mansell, D.Prestia, J.Graham
F: M.Pickett, D.Martin, J.Riewoldt
NEXT: S.Ryan, J.Short, J.Hopper
I/C: H.Ralphsmith, B.Miller, S.Bolton, T.Cotchin
EMG: T.Young, B.Nyuon, T.Sonsie, J.Clarke
IN: T. Cotchin
OUT: N.Cumberland (omitted), J.Clarke (omitted)
GEELONG
B: MO’Connor, E.Ratugolea, Z.Guthrie
HB: J.Kolodjashnij, T.Stewart-C, Z.Tuohy
C: M.Knevitt, T.Atkins, M.Duncan
HF: O.Henry, O.Dempsey, T.Bruhn
F: G.Miers, T.Hawkins, J.Cameron
FOLL: J.Ceglar, M.Holmes, M.Blicavs
I/C: J.Bews, B.Parfitt, S.Simpson, I.Smith
EMG: J. Clark, J. Willis, O. Mullin, C. Whyte
IN: B. Parfitt
OUT: B.Close (suspended), P.Dangerfield (injured)
WEST COAST
B: A. Witherden, T. Barrass-C, L. Duggan
HB: J.Jones, J.Rotham, J.Hunt
C: L.Foley, T.Kelly, A.Gaff
HF: J.Waterman, J.Darling, C.West
F: C.Jamieson, O.Allen, J.Petruccelle
NEXT: B.Williams, D.Sheed, R.Ginbey
I/C: B.Hough, X.O’Neill, G.Clark, H.Edwards
EMG: L.Edwards, C.Chesser, Z.Trew, H.Barnett
IN: C. Jamieson, B. Hough, H. Edwards
OUT: S.Hurn (injured), J.Culley (injured), L.Edwards (manage), Z.Trew (sub)
GOLDEN COAST
B: S.Lemmens, S.Collins, M.Andrew
HB: D. Macpherson, C. Ballard, W. Powell
C: B. Fiorini, D. Swallow, B. Ellis
HF: T.Berry, J.Lukosius, M.Rosas
F: S.Day, B.King, M.Chol
NEXT: J.Witts – C, M.Rowell, N.Anderson
I/C: R.Atkins, A.Davies, B.Humphrey, H.Oea
EMG: C. Burgess, O. Faulkhead, A. Sexton, J. Tsitas
IN: M.Andrew, S.Day, H.Oea
OUT: S.Flanders (omitted), B.Long (injured), J.Tsitas (sub), L.Casboult (personal reasons)
SYDNEY
B: N. Blakey, A. Francis, R. Fox
HB: O.Florent, J.Lloyd, B.Campbell
C: J. McInerney, L. Parker-C, E. Gulden
HF: H.Cunningham, L.McDonald, W.Hayward
F: T. Papley, L. Franklin, I. Heeney
FOLLOWS: T.Hickey, C.Mills, J.Rowbottom
I/C: W.Gould, Ch.Warner, R.Clarke, H.McLean
EMG: A.Sheldrick, M.Sheather, D.Stephens, L.McAndrew
IN: T. Hickey, W. Gould
OUT: T.McCartin (injured), P.Ladhams (injured), M.Sheather (omitted)
Fremantle
B: B.Cox, A.Pearce-C, H.Young
HB: B. Walker, L. Ryan, J. Clark
C: JAish, C. Serong, NO’Driscoll
HF: M.Walters, L.Jackson, J.Treacy
F: S.Switkowski, J.Amiss, L.Schultz
NEXT: S.Darcy, A.Brayshaw, J.O’Meara
I/C: B.Banfield, M.Frederick, N.Erasmus, E.Hughes
EMG: N.Fyfe, W.Brodie, J.Draper, S.Sturt
IN:zero
OUT: N.Fyfe (substitute)
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: G.Logue, B.McKay, A.Corr
HB: M.Bergman, L.McDonald, F.Perez
C: B.Scott, C.Taylor, H.Sheezel
HF: L.Shiels, J.Stephenson, B.Drury
F: P.Curtis, N.Larkey, C.Zurhaar
NEXT: T.Goldstein, L.Davies-Uniacke, J.Simpkin – C
I/C: D.Tucker, J.Ziebell, H.Greenwood, J.Mahony
EMG: C.Lazzaro, P.Spicer, E.Ford, C.Coleman-Jones
IN: H. Greenwood
OUT: B.Cunnington (omitted), C.Lazzaro (substitute)
PORT ADELAIDE
B: A. Aliir, T. McKenzie, T. Jonas-C
HB: M.Bergman, R.Burton, R.Bonner
C: D.Houston, J.Horne-Francis, T.Boak
HF: J.McEntee, D.Byrne-Jones, C.Rozee
F: F.Evans, T.Marshall, O.Lord
NEXT: B.Teakle, S.Powell-Pepper, W.Drew
I/C: D.Williams, O.Wines, Z.Butters, J.Finlayson
EMG: L.Jones, K.Farrell, J.Mead, O.Lord
IN: O.Sir
LOW: J.Rioli (suspended), C.Dixon (injured)
ESPINO
B: J.Sicilia – C, S.Frost, J.Weddle
HB: S.Mitchell, J.Blanck, J.Impey
C: C. Nash, J. Newcombe, K. Amon
HF: J.Worpel, L.Meek, C.Wingard
F: D.Moore, M.Lewis, L.Breust
NEXT: N.Reeves, W.Day, C.Mackenzie
I/C: C.Jiath, S.Butler, B.Hardwick, H.Morrison
EMG: J. Scrimshaw, J. Koschitzke, F. Greene, L. Bramble
IN: J.Blanck, L.Breust, C.Mackenzie, C.Jiath, S.Butler
OUT: F.Greene (omitted), J.Scrimshaw (omitted), T.Brockman (suspended), C.Macdonald (illness), J.Ward (injured), L.Bramble (sub)
MELBOURNE
B: A.Brayshaw, S.May, M.Hibberd
HB: J.McVee, J.Lever, J.Bowey
C: E.Langdon, C.Oliver, A.Neal-Bullen
HF: B.Fritsch, B.Grundy, L.Hunter
F: K.Chandler, J.van Rooyen, K.Pickett
NEXT: M.Gawn – C, C.Petracca, J.Viney
I/C: C.Spargo, T.Rivers, T.Sparrow, H.Petty
EMG: B.Laurie, J.Jordon, T.McDonald, D.Turner
IN: M.Hibberd, C.Spargo
OUT: D.Turner (omitted), J.Jordon (omitted), J.Harmes (alternate)
BRISBANE LIONS
B: B. Starcevich, J. Payne, K. Coleman
HB: C.McKenna, H.Andrews, D.Zorko
C: J.Berry, Z.Bailey, H.McCluggage
HF: C.Cameron, J.Gunston, W.Ashcroft
F: L. McCarthy, J. Daniher, E. Hipwood
NEXT: O.McInerney, J.Dunkley, L.Neale – C
I/C: C.Rayner, H.Sharp, R.Lester, D.Wilmot
EMG: C.Ah Chee, N.Cockatoo, D.Fort, N.Answerth
Y: D.Zorko
OUT: N.Answerth (omitted), J.Lyons (substitute)
ESENDON
B: N.Hind, B.Zerk-Thatcher, M.Redman
HB: A.McGrath, K.Baldwin, K.Langford
C: S.Durham, D.Shiel, N.Martin
HF: B.Hobbs, S.Weideman, J.Caldwell
F: J.Menzie, J.Stringer, A.McDonald-Tipungwuti
NEXT: S.Draper, Z.Merrett-C, W.Setterfield
I/C: A.Perkins, D.Heppell, A.Davey Jr., A.Phillips
EMG: W.Snelling, R.Montgomerie, P.Voss, M.D’Ambrosio
IN: K. Baldwin, S. Durham
OUT: J.Kelly, J.Ridley, D.Parish (all injured)
CARLTON
B: Le.Young, J.Weitering, N.Newman
HB: M.Kennedy, M.McGovern, A.Saad
C: B.Acres, P.Cripps-C, O.Hollands
HF: S.Walsh, H.McKay, J.Silvagni
F: C.Durdin, C.Curnow, J.Motlop
FOLLOWS: M.Pittonet, G.Hewett, S.Docherty
I/C: A.Cincotta, A.Cerra, M.Cottrell, MOwies
EMG: E.Curnow, J.Boyd, L.Fogarty, B.Kemp
IN: M. Cottrell, M. Owies
OUT: B.Kemp, J.Honey, E.Curnow (all omitted)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: T.Duryea, L.Jones, E.Richards
HB: B.Dale, A.Keath, J.Johannisen
C: O.Baker, M.Bontempelli – C, B.Williams
HF: J.Macrae, J.Ugle-Hagan, C.Weightman
F: A.Jones, A.Naughton, R.Lobb
NEXT: T.English, B.Smith, T.Liberatore
I/C: R.Gardner, C.Daniel, A.Scott, J.O’Donnell
EMG: L.McNeil, M.Hannan, TO’Brien, J.Sweet
IN: JO’Donnell
OUT: A.Treloar (injured), L.McNeil (sub)
ADELAIDE
B: P.Parnell, T.Doedee, M.Hinge
HB: B.Smith, J.Butts, W.Milera
C: J. Soligo, J. Dawson-C, L. Sholl
HF: I. Rankine, C. Jones, L. Pedlar
F: T. Walker, D. Fogarty, L. Murphy
NEXT: RO’Brien, R.Laird, B.Keays
L/C: R. Thilthorpe, J. Rachele, R. Sloane, M. Michaelanney
IN: P. Parnell
OUT: N.Murray (injured), M.Crouch (sub)
st kilda
B: J.Battle, D.Howard, C.Wilkie
MP: L. Stocker, J. Sinclair, N. Wanganeen-Milera
C: M.Wood, S.Ross, R.Byrnes
HF: M.Owens, B.Hill, M.Phillipou
F: A.Caminiti, T.Membrey, J.Higgins
NEXT: R.Marshall, B.Crouch, J.Steele – C
I/C: H.Clark, D.Butler, B.Paton, C.Sharman
IN: A. Caminiti
OUT: J.Bytel (sub), J.Gresham (injured)
COLLINGWOOD
B: I. Quaynor, D. Moore-C, B. Maynard
HB: W.Hoskin-Elliott, N.Murphy, O.Markov
C: S. Sidebottom, J. De Goey, N. Daicos
HF: B.Hill, B.Mihocek, J.Daicos
F: T. Adams, M. Cox, J. Elliott
FOLLOWS: A. Johnson, S. Pendlebury, T. Mitchell
I/C: J.Noble, J.Crisp, B.McCreery, J.Ginnivan
IN: –
OUT: B.Frampton (injured)
GWS
B: C.Fleeton, C.Idun, N.Haynes
HB: L.Whitfield, J.Buckley, L.Ash
C: F.Callaghan, J.Kelly, R.Angwin
HF: B.Daniels, H.Himmelberg, D.Lloyd
F: A.Cadman, J.Hogan, T.Bedford
FOLLOWS: M.Flynn, T.Green, S.Coniglio
I/C: H.Perryman, C.Brown, J.Peatling, X.O’Halloran
IN: C. Fleeton
OUT: C.Ward (sub), I.Cumming (injured)