Kane Cornes Labels Port Adelaide 'Rock Bottom' Amid Rebuild Debate
Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes has issued a stark declaration, stating that Port Adelaide have hit 'rock bottom' and must fully embrace a comprehensive rebuild to avoid falling further behind in the AFL competition. This comes as the Power, under new coach Josh Carr, have stumbled to a 1-2 start to the season, including a shocking home loss to cellar dwellers West Coast on Sunday.
Koch's 'Reboot' Stance Versus Cornes' Rebuild Call
Questions are swirling about the club's direction, but chairman David Koch remains steadfast, insisting the team is 'rebooting' rather than undergoing a traditional rebuild. Koch has emphasised that finals remain the pass mark for Port Adelaide, a club that has reached the business end of the season four times in the past six years. 'It's always finals, we ban the word 'rebuild', which is an excuse for failure,' he told 7NEWS at the season's start. After losses to North Melbourne and West Coast, Koch reiterated this position on Monday, saying, 'We're rebooting, rather than rebuilding. Obviously new coach, new list, takes some time to settle in.'
Meanwhile, coach Josh Carr acknowledged his side is in a state of 'transition' following the disappointing defeat. Cornes, however, argues that such terminology is merely semantics. 'We're splitting hairs aren't we ... rebooting and transitioning, it's the same thing (as rebuild),' he said on The Agenda Setters. He criticised the club's list management, noting Port Adelaide did not draft any players recently, calling it 'the first club in history to not draft a player.'
Cornes' Scathing Assessment of Port's Position
Cornes elaborated that Port Adelaide are in the worst position of all 18 AFL clubs, even worse than Essendon, Richmond, and North Melbourne, who have already begun their rebuilds. 'In fact, I think they are rock bottom. Of all the 18 clubs, I think they are in the worst position because they haven't started yet,' he continued. He pointed out that other teams have invested in young talent through the draft, while Port has lagged behind.
The potential departure of superstar free agent Zak Butters could be a catalyst for change. Cornes suggested that if Butters leaves, Port should use the resulting high draft picks to initiate a rebuild. He warned that if Koch refuses to acknowledge this need, it might be time for the chairman to step aside. 'If he's not admitting that this club needs a rebuild, then yes I think it is (time he goes),' Cornes stated.
Critique of Player List and Lost Opportunities
Cornes also highlighted concerns about the current squad, naming players like Will Brodie, Corey Durdin, Joe Richards, Jackson Mead, and Lachie Jones as examples of those 'gifting Port Adelaide jumpers' without deserving them. He estimated that nine of the 23 players are not AFL-standard and won't help the club progress. 'They're not going to take this club forward,' he asserted.
St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt supported this view, noting the lost opportunity to develop younger players. 'That's the lost opportunity. That should be kids right now, getting 50 games into them,' he said. As Port Adelaide faces mounting pressure, the debate over rebooting versus rebuilding intensifies, with Cornes urging immediate action to secure the club's future.
