Kane Cornes’ mind blown by Brisbane Lions link with Oscar Allen
Following the Brisbane Lions’ links with one of the AFL’s best key forwards, Kane Cornes has eviscerated the reigning premiers.
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Kane Cornes has been left flabbergasted by West Coast captain Oscar Allen’s links with reigning AFL premiers Brisbane.
After storming to last year’s premiership, their first in more than two decades, the Lions are in the hunt for a long-term replacement for retired spearhead Joe Daniher.
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The Lions have reportedly held talks with Allen, who will be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025 season.
“I’d love to see it happen,” Lions star Jarrod Berry said about Allen’s possible switch to the Queensland club.
“He’s a superstar guy and has great leadership attributes from what I’ve heard and seen.
“He’d be a great addition, but … we’ll leave that up to the list manager. We’ll worry about winning football games.”
But the talks have blown the mind of Port Adelaide premiership winner Cornes, who brought up the speculation on SEN radio.
The 42-year-old believes player wages should be made public as there will automatically be queries about how the premiers could fit Allen and what would be a hefty contract into their salary cap.
“Just their link to Oscar Allen, the West Coast captain, free agent,” Cornes began.
“One of the better contested marks if not the best contested mark inside forward 50 in the league with Jesse Hogan I would say.
“How can Brisbane fit Oscar Allen into their salary cap?
“This is the exact reason that frustrates me with player wages not becoming public because the scepticism that comes with a link to Oscar Allen like this, I physically can’t work out how they could fit him in to their salary cap.”
Following his debut back in 2018, Allen has played 93 games and kicked 139 goals for the Eagles.
The 196cm key forward’s best season came in 2023, when he kicked 53 goals in 23 games for a West Coast side that only won three games.
A knee injury sidelined Allen for 14 games last season, but he will co-captain the West Australian side alongside Liam Duggan for a second year in 2025.
Cornes said the likes of Lachie Neale, Harris Andrews, Cam Rayner, Hugh McLuggage and Josh Dunkley would already be on big deals with the club.
Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft will also be among a crop of players expecting major upgrades on their deals when they come off contract.
“It would absolutely blow my mind that Brisbane could even consider paying Oscar Allen $1.2-1.3 million dollars, which he’s going to get, and fit him into the salary cap,” Cornes continued.
“How? How could they even contemplate this?
“Wouldn’t it just be easier if we could see (the wages). There’s not for one second that I believe they could fit Oscar Allen into the salary cap.
“Everyone speculates. Everyone has conspiracy theories. That’s the reality. I just think it’s unhealthy that that is our initial thought.
“You know what’s easier? Just tell us what everyone gets paid and we’ll all move on and these discussions we can have with the full information right in front of us.”
Berry was keen to focus on the players who will attempt to fill the void left by Daniher, including off-season recruit Sam Day, Logan Morris and versatile ruckman Darcy Fort.
Darcy Gardiner and Linc McCarthy are also on the comeback trail from long-term knee injuries.
Berry also admitted the Lions will miss Daniher, both on and off the field.
“Joe’s a special footballer and you probably don’t come across guys like that very often in your career,” he said.
“I’m so lucky that I was actually able to play with him. I look back on my career, and I identify guys like that, just the ability for him to win games off his own boot.
“We probably owe the premiership to Joey slotting that (winning) goal against GWS (in last year’s semi-final).”
– with NewsWire
Originally published as Kane Cornes’ mind blown by Brisbane Lions link with Oscar Allen
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