‘It’s just ridiculous’: Kane Cornes blasts Darcy Fogarty’s ‘stupid’ monster six-year deal

Kane Cornes has blasted the latest monster AFL deal that has stunned the game, unloading on the league’s latest trend.

Adelaide forward Darcy Fogarty appears set to finish as a one-club player after the Crows announced a stunning six-year extension for the star.

The 25-year-old Fogarty, who is already contracted for next year, will be contracted to the club until the end of the 2031 season.

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Fogarty has already played at the Crows for the past seven years, tallying 102 games and booting 158 goals. He also played every game in 2024.

The 2024 season was his best as he topped Adelaide’s goalkicking list with 41 majors — good enough for equal 14th on the Coleman Medal leaderboard — and just 16 behinds.

He also booted a career high five goals against the Western Bulldogs in round 22.

But despite high hopes heading into the season after a 10th place finish in 2023 with the side seemingly denied a finals berth by the technology, it was another disastrous season for the Crows, who managed just eight wins and a draw to finish 15th.

While it was a career-best season for Fogarty, who was also elevated to the Crows leadership group, the decision to lock the star in for the next seven seasons has raised more than a few eyebrows.

It’s good news for Darcy Fogarty. Photos: Harrison Mielke

Former Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes has questioned the decision on social media.

Cornes is a vocal critic of AFL clubs signing stars to long-term deals, having trashed St Kilda’s six-year extension for Max King, calling it “one of the more risky moves I’ve seen”, as well as saying the trend was “out of control” earlier in the year.

“Just an extra 7 years – he must be really, really, really good,” Cornes tweeted.

A fan replied to the media personality, writing: “More talent in his left nut than you ever had!”, to which Cornes responded: “Good example then of ‘talent’ getting you only so far … Let’s just hope his next 7 years are much better than his first.”

Speaking on SEN Breakfast on Wednesday, Cornes doubled down.

“It’s amazing the silly decisions clubs are making,” Cornes said.

“This is one like the Noah Balta one (signed a seven-year extension) … Some you can understand like the Jake Weitering one (also signed a six-year extension), he deserved that. It’s not the length I’d love to sign him, probably four or five would be ideal but I can understand why Carlton have done that — without him, they’re stuffed.

“This one I don’t understand because we’re not sure he’s a legitimate 200-game AFL player yet and they’ve locked him in for seven years.

“I think you need to be really certain, and I understand this long-term stuff, but you want to be really selective about who you’re giving these types of deals to.

“As a footy club, you want to be absolutely certain that they are the type of person who can cope with it, has the ability to still be playing at a reasonable level in seven years.

“And there needs to be the risk of someone coming in and taking them. Of course there was that risk with Darcy Fogarty, some other stupid club would have also given him seven years when he qualified for free agency but you know what, you get compensated and you get compensated pretty well as we’ve seen with Josh Battle and Isaac Cumming if teams come with those stupid offers.

Kane Cornes has erupted. Photo: X

“Honestly, Darcy Fogarty was playing reserves football not that long ago and Adelaide didn’t know where to place him. Credit to him, he has really improved his game and he’s important, but once again he’s a player who I don’t think has been fully committed to preparing his body that he should and getting himself super fit over the journey of his career. And you’ve just locked him in regardless of what happens — he gets paid for the next seven years on your dime regardless of his performance.

“It’s just ridiculous and Adelaide should have waited and just absorbed all the information, put a reasonable offer to him of four years halfway through the year. And if he didn’t want it and wants to go, he’s a restricted free agent, Adelaide have got the opportunity to match at the end of the year, and if not, you’re going to get, depending on where Adelaide finish, a top 10 pick for him.”

However, similarly to the Max King move, the decision likely just means the Crows control Fogarty’s contract, not ruling out the South Australian native from being used as a bargaining chip in a potential trade in the future.

The reaction to the move was divided.

“I’m a Crows fan and I don’t like this tenure,” one fan said.

Another commented: “We’ve seen time and again that these contracts mean nothing if a player and or club wants out. My question is, why does AFC feel the need to always ink long-term deals? Darcy hasn’t exactly set the world on fire the past 8 yrs on the list.”

Another fan called him: “Jake Stringer from Temu.”

Darcy Fogarty had a career-best season in 2024. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

However, plenty of other fans were happy with the call, while Fogarty said he believed the club was “heading in an exciting direction.

“As a forward line we have built some great chemistry and it’s been good to learn from some of our senior players, and now have the opportunity to pass some of that knowledge and experience onto others,” Fogarty said in a statement.

“No career is without its challenges and I feel like I’ve made some real growth in my first 100 games and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next 100 hold.

“I’d love to finish my career a one-club player, the Club has put its faith in me and I’m excited to repay them and continue the journey with my teammates.”

The Crows had a strong trade period, adding GWS players Isaac Cumming and James Peatling, as well as landing Demons forward Alex Neal-Bullen.

The club also still holds his No. 4 pick in the AFL Draft.

Originally published as ‘It’s just ridiculous’: Kane Cornes blasts Darcy Fogarty’s ‘stupid’ monster six-year deal