Power flag ranks as Cornes' proudest moment

GRAHAM Cornes has landmark moments in South Australian and national football.

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GRAHAM Cornes has landmark moments in South Australian and national football.

As a young Glenelg cult figure, he rose above the pack to take the mark that defines the 1973 SANFL grand final - the last at Adelaide Oval - against North Adelaide.

As the ambitious Glenelg coach, he defied the Tigers' image as perpetual bridesmaids by leading his club to consecutive SANFL premierships in 1985-86.

As SA's Origin coach, Cornes put state before everything to create the greatest dynasty of triumphs against the ogre of the Big V from Victoria.

His six consecutive wins against the best from Victoria to ensure SA ruled as national champions is without peer.

As the Crows' first coach, Cornes ensured the Adelaide Football Club was successful on the field - ensuring the Crows were the only AFL expansion club not to need financial underwriting from headquarters in Melbourne.

Yet for all these achievements, Cornes' proudest moment in football is not during his 28-year career across three states. It also takes place at Port Adelaide (the club he supported in his youth at Reynella and then locked horns as an adult) and does not involve him.

It is the 2004 AFL grand final in which his two sons, Chad and Kane, became AFL premiership players, 25 years after Cornes left the VFL with his adventure at North Melbourne cut short by coach Ron Barassi at five games.

"For me, 1973 was relief in victory - we were a strong side and almost blew it," said Cornes.

"It was also relief in 1985 as a coach. The state games were great and there has not been a better atmosphere at Football Park since those days when we made the rivalry against the Victorians become almost a hatred of them.

"But seeing the two boys win the 2004 grand final stands above them all as my proudest moment in football."

There are regrets. The obvious one is the 1993 AFL preliminary final in which Adelaide gave up a 42-point lead at half-time to lose to eventual premiers Essendon by 11 points.

"If I could have that half-time again," Cornes says. "What if we had made the grand final? What if we had won?

"But who knows? Everything happens for a reason."