A rare break from the cut-and-thrust of the premiership season allowed Harry Cunningham the chance to return to his footballing roots yesterday evening.

The 20-year-old travelled to Wagga Wagga during his bye-week break, making a special guest appearance at Turvey Park Juniors training to present his former club with the spoils that come with producing an AFL Rising Star nominee, which Cunningham received following his round 15 performance against GWS.

Speaking to The Daily Advertiser, Cunningham said it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to give back to where his career began as a four-year-old.

"It's always good to get back to where it all started I guess, hand out a few footys, and help their development," Cunningham said.

"I used to love it when anyone would come to the footy club and speak to us, so I owe the club and it’s great to get back and say g'day.

"It's also good for the juniors to look up to someone; they know it can happen and they can look up to myself and other players from the Riverina that have made it and achieve those goals."

The Swans’ number seven has played every game of 2014, after appearing in six games combined in his first two seasons, and has been deployed in a variety of forward, midfield and defensive roles for the side.

With training set to resume over the weekend before the remaining six home-and-away rounds of the season, Cunningham said he is looking to push on from what has already been a break-out year.

"The Sydney Swans are going pretty well and that's helped me to be able to develop, play some different roles for the team, and play pretty well," he said.

"Hopefully I keep my body right, I'm a week-to-week sort of player and I need to train hard and work hard during the week to get a game on the weekend.

"Then obviously I need to play my role for the team and I'll continue to look at doing that this year, and hopefully we can go deep into September."

Cunningham had a taste of finals football last year and proved he can thrive at that level. He averaged 14 disposals and two goals across the semi and preliminary finals, an experience he hopes he can build on over the coming months.

"I played a couple of finals last year and unfortunately fell one week too early," he said.

"Deep down inside of me I really want to come back and have an impact on the side at the end of the year and hopefully in September."