NORTH Melbourne midfielder Jack Ziebell is proving his worth as a wildcard forward in the latter stages of the season.

Former Cobden coach Wayne Walsh reckons the Roos have another attacking ace up their sleeve — contested ball-winner Ben Cunnington.

Cunnington, now 23, burst into the Hampden league consciousness as a 15-year-old, famously kicking 10 goals for Cobden in his senior debut.

Walsh knew Cunnington, the boy from Princetown, was something special.

“He was more of a key position player for us,” Walsh said yesterday. 

“He probably didn’t have the running capacity then and was quite tall for his age, had a good vertical leap and was hard to beat one-on-one.”

Cunnington played in Cobden’s 2007 losing grand final side before the Geelong Falcons swooped, helping shape him into the midfielder he is today.

His Bombers teammate Gary Rohan joined him in the TAC Cup system a year later and both were selected inside the 2009 AFL national draft’s top 10 — within a pick of each other no less.

The enormity of their achievement put dairy-farming village Cobden — population 1500 — on the map.

“It was pretty big for the town,” Walsh said.

“There wasn’t anyone from the town since Anthony Darcy, so there was 20 years between drinks.

“And to have the two Merrett boys (Essendon’s Jackson and Zach) follow up is exciting for Cobden.”

Cobden fans will watch Cunnington and Rohan play against each other in an AFL preliminary final on Friday night when North Melbourne travels to play at Sydney’s Olympic Park.

The prize for both could be a maiden grand final — Rohan missed the Swans’ 2012 flag with a broken leg.

Walsh, a Cobden export now based in Geelong, expects both players to have an impact on Friday night.

Somewhat luckily, his three-year coaching tenure at the Bombers coincided with Cunnington and Rohan coming through the junior ranks.

Their success at the elite level hasn’t surprised him.

“Both boys were unreal to coach,” Walsh said. 

“They were very determined young men and would do whatever you’d tell them to do on the football field. They were very coachable.

“I am sure Gary will add a lot to the Sydney back line. He’s had a good six weeks and the way Ben’s playing he’ll almost win the best and fairest at North Melbourne.

“He has a tough job against the best midfield in the competition but he won’t be daunted by it.

“It’s great to see both of them out there on the big stage.”

Cunnington was taken with pick five in 2009; his mate Rohan a pick later.

They made their debuts in 2010: Cunnington in round five and Rohan in round seven.

Cunnington has raced to 98 career games — a grand final would be his 100th — averaging 19 games a season in his five years in the system.

The road has proven rockier for Rohan.

A horrific broken leg in 2012 stalled his progress.

This year is the first time Rohan has grouped games in double figures in a season. 

His career tally stands at 41 but the speedster has played the past nine in a row, consolidating a spot in the Swans’ back line. 

Walsh noticed the top qualities in his star pupils early on. 

Cunnington was a ready-made player, while Rohan had more flair. 

“Ben was a really good young fella coming through,” Walsh said. 

“I enjoyed coaching him and he was a great student of the game.

“The thing that stood out for me the most was his strength for his age and his hands.”

Walsh said Cobden would throw a teenage Cunnington on the ball “for five minutes” throughout games, such was his cleanness in close.

“I went and watched North Melbourne play a couple of weeks ago and his hands in close were amazing,” he said.

Rohan, who would “run 14 kilometres in to training if his parents couldn’t get him there”, missed TAC Cup selection as a bottom-ager.

The setback tested his mettle and proved integral in him soaring up the draft pecking order.

“Gary tried out for the Falcons the year Ben made it and he didn’t make it,” Walsh said.

“I think it was a blessing for him, playing an extra year of seniors (at Cobden).”

-Preliminary final teams will be announced at 6.25pm Thursday. 

justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au