Cornes: Crows would be “panicking” over “ridiculous” Fogarty deal

SEN • March 27th, 2026 12:35 pm

Kane Cornes wonders if the Adelaide Crows would be concerned by the form of Darcy Fogarty.

The 26-year-old was quiet in Thursday night’s eight-point loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, finishing with just two kicks among seven disposals and one mark.

While Cornes acknowledges that the wet conditions weren’t quite right for a key forward to prosper, he still feels Fogarty could have competed harder.

He questioned what the future holds for Fogarty, now in his ninth season, who has a contract with the Crows until 2031 after signing a six-year extension in 2024.

“I know Adelaide are slightly concerned about Darcy Fogarty, and his lack of development or improvement, and his ability to be a dangerous threat,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“They signed him to 2031 or something ridiculous.

“If he's not going to compete, then what's he got left? (Connor) O’Sullivan takes him last night, he’s the second youngest player on the ground, and there was two or three big contests that Fogarty just couldn't even bring the ball to ground.

“Seven touches for Fogarty. I understand it's not his conditions. I thought he competed harder in the second half than the first, but if he's not neutralising contest with his frame, what is he doing?

“And when is the time to have the conversation around panic stations with Darcy Fogarty?

“We've been speaking about him for a long, long time now. He's not young, Darcy Fogarty, so I think there's some concern, and is it at the stage when (Taylor) Walker comes back that he goes back and and spends a month and just rips it apart in the SANFL? don't know what it is.

“But maybe he's not the replacement for Taylor Walker that we've all been thinking that he is going to be.

“I was really disappointed in his game.”

David King suggests Fogarty, who has kicked 203 goals from 129 games, might simply just be the player we see.

“He hasn't really hit any great heights. Is he just that player?,” King pondered.

“I don't know if he's going to be any better than that. And is that ok?

“I think he's just a good AFL player. I don't think he's any better than that.”

Cornes disagreed: “No, well I don't know if he's even a good AFL player, because if he's not willing to compete now…

“He usually gives you the effort and the contest work. Never been a high-disposal, high-goal player, but I think they'd be panicking about him and the decision to sign him for six ridiculous years at the time.”

Cornes referenced a few forward lines around the league that in his opinion have better tall options than the Crows including Gold Coast, Fremantle and Hawthorn.

He put the acid on the club’s new list manager Jarryd Roughead to strengthen that area.

“So maybe they need to go back to either the draft or have a look at someone else,” he said further.

“That would not have been in Justin Reid's plans when he was the list manager.

“So big, big decisions for ‘Roughy’ as he comes in to take over.”

Fogarty has kicked four goals from three outings in 2026. He’s booted 30 or more goals in each of the past four seasons.