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“Come back to bite you”: Cornes’ warning for Hawthorn
SEN • July 31st, 2026 7:20 pm
Hawthorn must be very careful with their list management, according to Kane Cornes.
The Hawks have a stacked stock of key forwards right now led by veteran Jack Gunston, with Mabior Chol and Mitch Lewis the preferred support.
Add Aidan Schubert, the impending eighth Hawks debutant of the season, who will step in for the concussed Lewis for Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne in Launceston.
And you can throw in Gold Coast’s Ben King who reportedly wants to play in brown and gold in 2027 and beyond.
Then waiting in the wings is the talented Calsher Dear.
The 20-year-old, who is without a contract for next season, has played just five senior games this season and has not featured since Round 16.
Cornes believes Dear is a talent that the Hawks should continue to nurture, warning them not to risk losing him.
“I’m putting the Hawks in the gun. You wouldn’t believe it,” Cornes, a self-confessed Hawks lover, said on SEN’s Fireball.
“They’re playing another debutant in Aidan Schubert. But I love Calsher Dear more.
“And if we are just going to ignore Calsher Dear… Mitch Lewis is out, I think Calsher Dear comes back in.
“‘Mitch’ (Sam Mitchell) told us last week he’s in good form, told us he’s been in really good form.
“If you want to lose this guy then sit him in the VFL and ignore him once again for another debutant who is 18. He’s maybe great, Schubert, and I hope he is.
“But you’re going to lose Calsher, you’re going to lose him. I think that is going to come back to bite you in a big way.
“You’ve got King, you’ve got my boy the Chols Royce, you’ve got Lewis who has committed, and you’ve got the opportunity to give Dear a game, and you overlook him again.
“If I’m another club, if I’m Collingwood, if I’m Melbourne - there’s a number of teams who need a key forward. Dear would be top of my list if I’m Tassie.
“They’ll lose him and they’re in the gun.”
Over the course of his 31-game AFL career, Dear has kicked 39 goals including 25 in his debut campaign in 2024.
He has booted 10 goals in 10 VFL outings this year, averaging 13 disposals and five marks
