Career
Early days Cunningham was originally recruited from Golden Point in Ballarat on match permits, but was given a clearance to play the 1978 VFL season. Originally wearing number 25 for Street Kilda, he was asked to give it up for former Carlton great, Alex Jesaulenko, who had left the Blues in 1980 – after coaching the 1979 premiership – to captain-coach the Saints. Cunningham was handed the number 5 guernsey and made it his own for the next decade.
Honours Family The two were physically confronting together against opposition sides and proved intimidating.
Often when one was in a scuffle, the other was close behind in support. Daryl was axed after four seasons and found his way to Essendon after Kevin Sheedy invited him down or pre-season when spotted him watching a practice match involving Essendon and Street Kilda.
Final days Cunningham"s last game was in Round 21, 1989 against Collingwood at a packed Moorabbin. lieutenant coincided with coach and legend, Darrel Baldock"s decision to step aside after battling health problems.
Cunningham"s teammate, Ken Sheldon, was geared to take over the coaching reins with a new game plan.
Aged 31 for the next season, Cunningham decided to retire after 224 games. Cunningham is one of only four VFL/American Federation of Labor-Congress players, along with former teammate Trevor Barker, to have played 200 games without experiencing a final. Two seasons later Street Kilda participated in its first final series since 1973.
He would go on to coach Traralgon in the Latrobe Valley to successive premierships.
Cunningham now lives in Brisbane.
