... Sunday, 5 July 2020 1:37 am. Industries and topics. North Melbourne’s horror injury run has continued after captain Jack Ziebell was ruled out during the first term against Richmond. Agriculture Share this page Print this page. North Melbourne midfielder Ben Cunnington has been withdrawn from Friday night’s State of Origin Bushfire Relief match due to hip soreness. Ben Cunnington (Leg) being assessed on the sidelines — aflratings Game Day (@aflratings_Live) February 21, 2020 Follow on Game Day Live Game Day News, Notes & Injuries.. A review is looming as North Melbourne’s injury toll continues to mount and star midfielder Ben Cunnington’s issues move from his back to his legs. Ben Cunnington (born, on and around a dairy farm 30 June 1991) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A review is looming as North Melbourne’s injury toll continues to mount and star midfielder Ben Cunnington’s issues move from his back to his legs. You can comfortably assume that Ben Cunnington will play every match of the season, and therefore every match for your supercoach side if you pick him. North Melbourne will play Essendon on Saturday night at Metricon Stadium.“(Cunnington) copped a knock early and then it just didn‘t get any better. Follow on Twitter @aflratings_Live. Date last updated. Ben Cunnington sits on the bench after struggling with a back injury. Rhyce Shaw conceded North Melbourne might have brought Ben Cunnington back from injury too early after the tough midfielder failed to see out the 49-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.In addition to Cunnington's injury, Tarryn Thomas was concussed when he took a heavy fall after flying for a huge pack mark before halftime and sat out the second half.Cunnington returned from a back injury to bolster a midfield group that lost skipper captain Jack Ziebell (hamstring) during the week, but it was smashed around the contest by a hungry Bulldogs outfit at Marvel Stadium."We were happy to play him and going in I was really confident with the way he was going and he warmed up really well. Ben Cunnington (c) exits with his Kangaroos teammates after the AFL defeat to the Bulldogs. KANGAROOS v SWANS Full match coverage and stats. North Melbourne's Ben Cunnington copped a knock to his back early in the 49-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs and was unable to see out the match. He wasn’t giving us anything from then on in, so it’s really disappointing,“ Shaw told reporters post-match.“He was in doubt all week, as we stated early in the week, and he got up and we were confident and I made a decision to play him, so that‘s where it sits.Subscribe to our Fox Sports newsletters“It possibly was the wrong call but we were really confident, to be honest, on all the evidence we were given … I was really confident with the way he was going and he warmed up really well, so it‘s just what it is.”The Western Bulldogs ended up running out 49-point winners, with the Roos now sitting at 2-3 after five matches.A knock to his back resulted in him being hardly able to move, with Shaw ruling him out at three-quarter time after just seven touches.The crucial Roo has been constantly battling a back complain over recent weeks, with the 29-year-old a late withdrawal in the past two weeks.But after passing a pre-game fitness test, Cunnington was passed fit to play before looking far from his best from the opening bounce.