Showdown 50: Chad Cornes talks about his memories and passion for this fierce rivalry

Chad Cornes clearly remembers being told about the Crows when he walked through the doors at Alberton. And the message ignited the passion that saw him become ‘Mr Showdown’.

Other players have won more Showdown Medals, played in more games, or never tasted defeat in the fierce rivalry.

But there is arguably no-one who more typifies the passion of the Showdown than Port Adelaide legend Chad Cornes.

He made his debut against Adelaide, of which his dad was the inaugural coach, and soon became public enemy number one among Crows fans.

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Chad Cornes celebrates kicking the opening goal in the Showdown. Picture: Simon Cross

Cornes - who features in the top 10 of The Advertiser’s Greatest Showman, which will count down the 50 best players of the Showdown ahead of Saturday night’s clash - would routinely lift for the clashes against the Crows.

Across a seven game winning streak for the Power across 2000 to 2004, Cornes began to forge a reputation as Mr Showdown.

By the time he finished up at the Power Cornes ended with a 13-12 winning record from his 25 Showdown’s, a medal from Showdown 21, 21 goals and nine Brownlow votes from his game against the Crows.

Now a development coach for the Power, Cornes is key in informing and reinforcing the importance of the Showdown for Port’s young players.

Ahead of Showdown 50, Cornes speaks to Simeon Thomas-Wilson about the match he has so much passion for, why he seemed to lift for the occasion time after time and his favourite memory of the fierce rivalry.

You were dubbed “Mr Showdown” as a player, why did you seem to lift so much for the games?

I remember clearly John Cahill, Choco (Mark Williams), David Arnfield and senior players drumming it into us as soon as you arrived at the club how much we hate the Crows and that it was unacceptable to lose to them.

I think as a young kid you want to earn the respect of your coaches and teammates, and because of the importance the club and the fans placed on these games, I put extra pressure on myself to play well in them.

I loved the atmosphere, I loved the build up of the week – I really loved the Crows fans hating me — most of my best memories of footy have come from these games.

What does the Showdown mean to you?

As I said above most of my great memories of playing AFL involve Showdowns. Don’t get me wrong we were also on the losing end of some terrible Showdown losses – the ’05 final still stings (Adelaide beat the Power by 83 points).

These games more to me than a regular season game because of how much a fans needed us to win – their happiness for the following weeks depended on it.

And players want to play well in big games, and as we know besides finals, games don’t get any bigger than Showdowns.

Chad Cornes celebrates kicking a goal. Picture: Calum Robertson

What memories does it bring back?

Too many to recall here. My first game was a Showdown in 1999. I had three possessions, played terribly and we lost.

I do remember the Crows fans clapping me and saying nice things to me as I was about to run on for my first taste of AFL – how times changed.

The feeling in the rooms after a great win, the look on the face of the volunteers that work at the club in the rooms after these games is something that stays with you.

Hugh Jackman’s half-time rev up in the last Showdown of 2006 obviously sticks with everyone that played in that game too.

How do you explain the significance of the Showdown to young interstate players when they come to Alberton?

I remember trying to explain to Connor (Rozee), Buttsy (Zak Butters) and X (Xavier Duursma) what they mean to our club at an airport lounge in Singapore as we were returning from a game in China a few years ago.

From memory I had a few drinks, so I was quite animated.

The club has made as real point of detailing and explaining to our current group and new players the history of the rivalry and what it means to our people.

What is your favourite Showdown moment?

Favourite win was the last one in 2006.

We had a really young team, weren’t making finals and the Crows were near the top of the table heading into finals.

No one expected us to win, it was a Crows home game which made it feel even more special.

I’ll never forget the feeling in the rooms after that game, and how happy all the boys were as we celebrated over a few beers at the Holdy in Glenelg.

Originally published as Showdown 50: Chad Cornes talks about his memories and passion for this fierce rivalry