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Full Noise by SN
Cornes: The Port Adelaide players not up to AFL standard
SEN • March 30th, 2026 11:30 am
Kane Cornes fears for the quality of the AFL’s talent pool.
The Port Adelaide great identified several players who wore Power colours on Sunday that he believes are not up to AFL standard.
Cornes says this does not bode well for when Tasmania enters the AFL in 2028, further diluting the talent pool around the country.
He singled out the Port players he suggests aren’t quite up to it at the elite level.
“I watched a game of footy live yesterday and there were players running around in a Port Adelaide jumper that shouldn’t be playing AFL footy,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.
“If you want me to name names I can and I’m happy to do that.
“I absolutely know that Will Brodie is not an AFL player. If he’s not getting a game for three years at Fremantle, why you would think he will come and be an impactful player at your club.
“I know Jacob Wehr is not an AFL player, I know it, I can see it. I know that (Ewan) Mackinlay is not an AFL player. I know that Lachie Jones is not an AFL player.
“There’s question marks over whether (Jase) Burgoyne is an AFL player. Logan Evans is not.
“Is there enough good players to support a 19th team? I can name you eight or nine players getting a Port Adelaide guernsey gifted to them that shouldn’t be and we’re going to bring in another team.
“We’re seeing Essendon and the standard of footy there was on Saturday night between North and the Bombers - it’s going to be ugly.”
Co-host David King concurs.
“The Vegemite doesn’t go as far on the toast as it used to,” he added.
“I think that notion is correct. It’s going to be tough to rebuild once you enter the Tassie draft sanction period.”
Cornes also believes the rule changes are also exposing the depth of talent with plenty of players unable to keep up.
“Then you bring in new rules which only favours the better teams, the stronger, the fitter, the more experienced, the hardened teams, and really hurts the weakened teams,” he said further.
“We’re going to see some absolute smashings in part because of these new rules and that quality that can’t keep up with the physical demands of the game. There’s going to be injuries left, right and centre.
“So it’s definitely a watch on whether they’ve jumped too early on that and whether they’ve jumped too early on a 19th team. We’ll see the quality hurt.”
