Kane Cornes savages Fremantle’s $2m list-management ‘disaster’

Kane Cornes has delivered both barrels to one AFL club as he pointed out the horror list-management decision they’ve made.

Kane Cornes tore shreds off Freo

Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes has delivered both barrels to Fremantle in a blistering rant.

Cornes unleashed at the Dockers in the wake of their best and fairest award being handed out following the 2024 season.

Watch the best coverage of the 2024 AFL finals, with expert analysis and every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Midfielder Caleb Serong won a second straigh Doig Medal after polling 240 votes as he edged out Andrew Brayshaw on 231.

Cornes’ issue however wasn’t with the top of Fremantle’s leaderboard, it was further down the order where he took aim.

The Dockers went all out in their pursuit of former Melbourne ruckman and number three draft Luke Jackson.

The 22-year-old joined forces with Sean Darcy but it was the lacklustre showing from the club’s two million dollar men that caught the attention of Cornes.

While Darcy endured an injury ravaged season that resulted in only 12 games, Jackson played in 23 games throughout 2024.

Despite playing almost the majority of the season, Jackson was only able to manage a ninth placed finish in the count.

Along with missing the finals, Cornes said the young star failing to finish higher is proof the Dockers made a nightmare call with their list as.

Kane Cornes went in on the Dockers.

Jackson finished ninth in the Dockers count. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“It’s best and fairest season at the moment, so it’s always interesting going through them,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“There are always little nuggets we can find in best and fairest results, and I just want to focus on Fremantle.

“If you’re paying two ruckmen a million bucks each, and that’s a million bucks each for seven years, I would expect better than one of those two finishing ninth in the best and fairest.

“Luke Jackson was nearly beaten by Brandon Walker in the best and fairest, it’s been nothing but a complete disaster those two rucks.

“So well done to Caleb Serong, but my dig is to Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy and the bizarre list management decisions at Fremantle, where only one of their million-dollar rucks managed to finish ninth in the best and fairest.

“It is unbelievable.”

Jackson’s signing came under fire. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jackson’s fifth season in the league saw him finish with a career high in disposals as he ended with an average of 16.3 per game.

The Dockers looked comfortably on track for September action at the end of round 20 when they sat third on the ladder.

Unfortunately the club endured a nightmare final month of the season as they lost their final four games to drop down to 10th on the ladder.

A one point loss to Essendon was followed by an 11 point loss to Geelong before they fell to GWS by 9 points.

Despite the horror run they were still in with a chance of securing eighth on the ladder in the final game of the season against Port Adelaide.

The Power ended their hopes and dreams however when they secured a 20-point victory.

Originally published as Kane Cornes savages Fremantle’s $2m list-management ‘disaster’