The North Melbourne midfielder - who grew up on a dairy farm in Princetown and played at both Timboon Demons and Cobden - says escaping to the country with his wife Belinda and two children is a welcome release.

Cunnington, known for his media-shy persona, opened up on the challenges of city life in a rare column for Sunday Herald Sun.

"If I had the choice, I wouldn't be here (in the city)," he wrote.

"But I have settled a lot more now, having my own family. We live in Altona, a nice house with a big backyard. It is on the right side (of the city) to nip home to the country.

"(Belinda and I) were brought up in the country, on dairy farms, in the fresh air. The world really is your oyster and you make your own fun.

"We had the best upbringing and want that for our children.

"They love it, which is great, Xavier and Stella want to go to the farm as much as they can, run around in the dirt and be free and not restricted.

"Becoming a father is the most special thing that has happened in my life. To be a father of two beautiful children and give them the best upbringing and opportunities they could ask for is what I live and strive for."

When the 28-year-old can't nip home, fishing is the next best outlet.

It's helped elevate his game to new heights. The dual Syd Barker medallist, who turned in a career-best season in 2019, said being on the water helped to produce his best football.

"I really struggled with homesickness the first couple of years in Melbourne, still do, and my career (at the time) not going as I had planned made it worse," he said.

"As things got hard in Melbourne I turned to fishing to find answers and settle myself so I could escape the city life and concentrate on my footy.

"Fishing is a passion that started when I was three and a half years old back home with the old man, Alan, catching eels and got serious when Pop, Peter Edney, and I would go every weekend chasing bream.

"To this day, fishing is my life. I can't get enough of it, I did struggle a bit with this whole virus thing and not being able to get out on the water.

"Not a day goes by that I don't think about it."

Cunnington's Kangaroos are unbeaten in 2020 after a thrilling come-from-behind triumph over St Kilda in round one.

The Arden Street-based club will face Greater Western Sydney Giants on Sunday as the AFL returns from its coronavirus-forced hiatus.

Powerhouses Collingwood and Richmond will kick off the season re-start on Thursday night at 7.40pm.\

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