IN the latest instalment of MG Moments, legendary Port Adelaide figure Brian Cunningham reveals the moment he learned about discipline the hard way at the club.
Cunningham would go on to forge a career as one of Port’s most decorated personalities, winning three premierships, captaining the club and standing as CEO for 12 years.
However, on this day, watching the seniors play on a Sunday afternoon, he was a fresh-faced 15-year-old cutting his teeth in the club’s under-17s.
“One of the rules on this Sunday that I came for a game was, ‘We don’t want you kicking the footy’,” Cunningham recalled.
“I’m going, ‘No, what do you mean?’ and I go out and have a kick with one of my mates, a couple of drop punts on the oval.
“Next thing is Monday night training – ‘You, Brian were seen kicking, can you front up to our tribunal on Wednesday night?’”
So Cunningham returned to the club later that week and was invited into the senior changerooms – a moment he remembers vividly being surrounded by Geof Motley, John Cahill and Ron Elleway’s names on the lockers.
“No one, unless you’re an A Grade player on the list, you never step across the line into the old A Grade player’s room with all the lockers,” he remembered.
“You never go in there.
The youngster entered the room and fronted up for his indiscretion.
“‘Brian, did you kick the footy?’” he recounted of the exchange.
“Yes, I kicked the footy.
“’You’re now suspended for the next two games’
“So I knew what discipline was about in those days.”
