Trading Ikon Park for 10 different hotel hubs across Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, it’s been a year we won’t soon forget.

With the final siren having rung on the final game, it’s time to look at those who featured in five or more games for Carlton or made their AFL debuts in 2020.

Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s No.28, David Cuningham.

GAMES

2020: 12
Career: 37

GOALS

2020: 6
Career: 20

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):

Disposals: 138 (11.5) Contested possessions: 56 (4.7) Inside 50s: 31 (2.6) Tackles: 33 (2.8) Score involvements: 50 (4.2) Metres gained: 2,436 (203)

OVERVIEW

Despite less matches being played over the course of the truncated season, David Cuningham managed his highest tally of senior appearances in a single year.

Featuring in 12 games in Navy Blue in 2020, Cuningham contributed six goals this season, averaging over 11 disposals in predominantly a forward role.

After the injury troubles of previous seasons, Cuningham played in Carlton’s first nine games of the year uninterrupted, before a calf injury stopped him in his tracks after Round 9.

Now with 37 games under his belt, the 23-year-old showed moments of his undeniable class this season, with one game standing as clearly the best of his career.

BEST PERFORMANCE

It was the game which Cuningham had been threatening to have since arriving at Ikon Park at the end of 2015.

When Carlton prevailed against Essendon by a single point for the first time since that day in 1999, Cuningham was the protagonist as he produced the game of his life in the tight win.

Accumulating 28 disposals and six inside 50s, Cuningham used his explosive speed to full effect under Saturday night lights at Carlton’s final MCG game of the year.

Crowned as the man of the match by Channel 7, Cuningham was one of three Blues to poll eight coaches’ votes alongside Levi Casboult and Sam Docherty.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

While Cuningham’s best game came against Essendon, he saved his best moment for a crucial time against North Melbourne.

After Carlton kicked out to an early lead, it needed a crucial intervention when North Melbourne began to press in the final quarter.

With the Blues leading by five points, Cuningham intercepted an errant handball, backed himself from long range and slotted home the goal in torrential rain to seal Carlton’s fourth win of the season. 

THEY SAID IT

One of the original new contingent to arrive at the Club in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, Cuningham said there were bigger and better things still to come from Carlton’s recent draft intake.

“When I first came to the Club, we had a lot of young players who use got drafted,” Cuningham said.

“Now, we’re seeing the development from those players and especially the guys who came in with me.

“Those boys are really starting to make their mark on the game. That’ll only continue to develop going forward.”