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Live sport on SN this weekendCornes: The Sun who could ‘bang the door down’ for maiden All-Australian
Nicholas Quinlan • March 7th, 2026 5:42 pm
If Sam Collins’ Opening Round showing is anything to go by, then Kane Cornes thinks that he could be in line for a maiden All-Australian appearance in 2026.
Since joining the Suns back in 2018, the 31-year-old has become an important part of the side's defence across his tenure, and Friday night proved to be no different.
The key defender managed nine intercept marks in Gold Coast’s 56-point win against the Cats, which played a part in neutralising Geelong’s forward line.
Speaking on his performance, the 300-game player for Port Adelaide admitted that he was surprised that Collins had not been selected into the 23-man team during his AFL career after being selected to the 40-man squad in 2024.
But if he can keep up his performances throughout the year, the All-Australian selector thinks he could go one better and earn his maiden blazer.
“How good did Collins look last night?” Cornes said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“I had to look up whether he had ever been an All-Australian (before). (He) hasn’t. Has been in the squad.
“But gee whiz, if you’re looking for a key defender and often, we are in those All-Australian meetings, it’s a position that no one really bangs the door down in recent times anyway.
“It looks like he might be banging it down this year.”
The Suns will look to continue their undefeated start to the season when they host the West Coast Eagles in Round 2.
That will be played on March 15 with the match beginning at 6:10pm AEDT.
