Counting down Port Adelaide’s 50 Greatest Players in club’s 150 years: those ranked 30-21
The Cornes brothers both feature in the next group of Port Adelaide’s 50 Greatest Players since 1870 – those ranked 21-30. But where do they sit? And which other players made the top 30?
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Two decades after their arrivals at Alberton caused a stir in SA football, Chad and Kane Cornes have been recognised among Port Adelaide’s 30 greatest players of all-time.
But which of the brothers – the sons of inaugural Crows coach and Glenelg champion Graham Cornes – has The Advertiser’s selection panel ranked higher in the countdown of the club’s top 50 stars since 1870?
On paper, Kane’s record is more significant.
He has the equal-most best and fairest wins in Port’s AFL history with four, is its games record holder in the national competition with 300 matches and is in the club’s Hall of Fame.
Chad’s major accolades – two All-Australian honours and a premiership – are matched by Kane.
The panel, comprising club greats Warren Tredrea, Brian Cunningham, Tim Ginever, Bob Philp, historian Mark Shephard, media manager Daniel Norton and The Advertiser reporter Matt Turner acknowledged Kane’s superior achievements but chose Chad ahead of him on the list.
Chad sits 22nd, while Kane is 26th.
It was a difficult call and made using the selection criteria: on-field performances, impact on success, selflessness, longevity, achievements and passion for the guernsey.
“Chad would go to war with you,” premiership teammate Tredrea said of the older Cornes sibling.
“In 2004, he moved to centre half-back and changed the way we played.
“In 2007, he was our best player, even though he didn’t win the best and fairest.
“Kane has an outstanding record but I think Chad was more influential.”
Other panellists agreed that while midfielder Kane made a huge contribution, Chad was a matchwinner in multiple positions.
“Kane’s record is overwhelming and I think he’s sometimes underrated, but I had Chad ranked ahead of him – just,” Turner said.
“People do forget that Kane played a huge role on Simon Black in the 2004 grand final and was a two-time All-Australian.”
Cunningham said both were great players for the club.
“Chad hasn’t have the accolades (compared to other stars in the top 30) but we know, having seen him, how influential he was,” Cunningham said.
It was huge news in Adelaide when Chad landed at the Power via pick nine in the 1997 national draft, given Graham’s history with Glenelg and the Crows.
Kane followed in Chad’s footsteps three years later by joining his brother at Alberton.
In 2004, they were teammates on the day Port officials still believed was the pinnacle in the club’s history, the grand final victory over Brisbane.
Chad finished on 239 games for the club after the 2011 season, before joining GWS.
Kane retired midway through 2015.
Both are greats of the club and separating them, let alone ranking them against stars across 150 years, is very tricky.
In between the Cornes brothers are three-time premiership captain Ginever (23) and two members of Port’s Greatest Team, its centre half-forward Les “Bro” Dayman (24) and back pocket Ted Whelan (25).
Ginever has left the room throughout the three-month selection process whenever his name has been discussed.
Cunningham said the seven-time flag winner made a massive contribution in the early 1990s when Port pushed to enter the AFL.
“We had to win premierships every year for five years and we won four out of five, and he led that,” he said.
Ranked from 27-30 are four-time best and fairest winner of the late 1800s Harry Phillips, star 1970s on-baller Darrell Cahill, Greatest Team wingman Craig Bradley and 1980s and ‘90s stalwart Stephen Williams.
Shephard called Phillips one of Port’s best players in its early years.
“He has an amazing record,” Shephard said.
Cunningham said Cahill was unlucky to not win a best and fairest because he regularly polled well and was such a consistent player.
“He was great and underrated,” Cunningham said.
Ginever added: “I loved him as a player.”
Bradley’s longevity at 98 games for Port hurt his chances of placing higher but he had a significant influence at the club before joining Carlton.
“He made a great contribution when he was here,” Shephard said.
Ginever described Williams as a late bloomer “but what a last 10 years it was”.
Shephard said Williams “never let the club down and his influence in big games and premierships got him this high, for me.”
Narrowly missing the top 20 is seven-time flag winner and 1988 Jack Oatey Medallist Bruce Abernethy (21).
Norton said Abernethy was a star for the club in a highly successful period.
The panel has judged everyone on their playing contributions to Port, not what they have done at other clubs, or as coaches or administrators.
Next week we will reveal the players ranked 11-20.
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