He's featured in every one of Sydney's AFL games this season, but Harry Cunningham says he covets a fulltime midfield gig with the minor premiers.
Described as a superb athlete by coach John Longmire earlier this week, 20-year-old Cunningham is enjoying a breakout year with the Swans.
The youngest player in Sydney's qualifying final team last weekend, Cunningham's career tally of 29 games is fewer than anyone in that side bar rookie Jake Lloyd.
Up until round 17 last year, he had played only one senior game in almost two seasons, but he hasn't been dislodged from the team since playing in both of the club's 2013 finals matches.
He is one of just eight Swans to play every game for the club this year.
Normally someone that entrenched in the team would be reasonably confident of holding their place, but Cunningham isn't the slightest bit complacent.
"I've got to be on my toes and improving every week to be getting a game and I still consider myself a week-to-week prospect," Cunningham said on Thursday.
"That's a challenge for me and that just sets me goals to improve and try and get a game every week."
While a little surprised to have played every game this year, Cunningham said he knew he had it in him after having a big pre-season.
Primarily renowned for his speed and run, Cunningham drew widespread praise last weekend for his lockdown job on Fremantle speedster Stephen Hill.
"I love getting challenges like that," Cunningham said.
"I've had a few challenges like that throughout the year and I was able to play on him (Hill) at the SCG in round five.
"I learnt a lot from that, so I took a lot of confidence from that going into the weekend."
He aspired to graduate from tagging roles into a fulltime midfielder, as current Swans co-captain Kieren Jack has done.
"I'd love to be able to go through the midfield in years to come and play a prominent role in there, so hopefully I can go down a similar path to Kieren," Cunningham said.
Share
