Kane Cornes labels Crows’ Matthew Nicks ‘coach of the year’ after Showdown thrashing

A divisive figure in the Crows-Port rivalry, Kane Cornes has made a shocking comment about Matthew Nicks.

Polarising Port Adelaide legend turned media pundit Kane Cornes has kicked left of field, showering Crows coach Matthew Nicks with the ultimate praise after Saturday’s Showdown slam.

“Let’s give Matthew Nicks credit, I think he is coach of the year,” Cornes said on his regular First Up show on afl.com.au.

Cornes highlighted Adelaide’s improved defence, and said there was “no doubt” that Nicks was deserving of the title.

Divisive football legend Kane Cornes said Crows coach Matthew Nicks should be “coach of the year”. Picture: Michael Klein

Cornes made the comment during his on his regular First Up show on afl.com.au. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Kane and his brother Chad have long been heroes in the realm of Port Adelaide — both premiership players — much to the displeasure of their father, SA football legend, Crows inaugural coach and arch enemy of all things Port Adelaide, Graham Cornes.

But on Monday, Kane was sure to have made his father proud, lauding Nicks just days after the Crows demolished the Power by 98 points in Showdown 58.

Speaking after Saturday’s Showdown, Nicks said “you dream about performances like that”.

“That’s years of work,” he said.

“We’ve had a belief there for a long period of time that we’re going in the right direction, we’ve got some great momentum at this point, but the guys are doing everything that’s possible to reset themselves and go on to the next week.”