View source for Kane Cornes

{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Kane Cornes
| image = KaneCornes.jpg
| caption = Cornes in 2025
| fullname = Kane Graham Cornes
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1983|1|5}}
| birth_place = 
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = [[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]] ([[South Australian National Football League|SANFL]])/[[Brighton Bombers]]
| draftpick = No. 20, [[2000 AFL Draft|2000 National Draft]]
| height = 183cm
| weight = 83kg
| position = [[Australian rules football positions|Midfielder]]
| statsend = 
| repstatsend = 2008
| years1 = 2001–2015
| club1 = {{AFL|PA}}
| games_goals1 = 300 (93)
| sooyears1 = 2008
| sooteam1 = [[Dream Team Australian rules football team|Dream Team]]
| soogames_goals1 = 1 (0)
| careerhighlights = 
* [[List of VFL/AFL premiers|AFL premiership player]]: [[2004 AFL Grand Final|2004]]
*4x [[John Cahill Medal]] (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012)
*2x [[All-Australian Team]] (2005, 2007)
*[[Peter Badcoe VC Medal]] (Round 6, 2008)
*[[Port Adelaide Football Club#Hall of Fame|Port Adelaide Hall of Fame inductee]] (2019)
*2x [[Merv Agars Medal]]: (2005, 2009)
}}

'''Kane Graham Cornes''' (born 5 January 1983) is a sports journalist, commentator and former [[Australian rules football]]er who played for [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). Known primarily as a tagger, Cornes is a four-time [[John Cahill Medal]] winner and held the club record for the most games for Port Adelaide in the AFL, before being surpassed by [[Travis Boak]].

Following his retirement from the AFL, Cornes transitioned into media, becoming a commentator and analyst. He appears regularly for [[Seven Network]] and [[Sports Entertainment Network|SEN]], having previously featured on [[The Sunday Footy Show (AFL)|The Sunday Footy Show]] and [[Footy Classified]].

==Early life==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}
A product of [[Sacred Heart College Senior, Adelaide|Sacred Heart College]] and [[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]] in the [[SANFL]], he made his AFL debut in 2001 after being selected with pick 20 in the [[2000 AFL Draft]]. Before his professional football career he attended Sacred Heart College, which is one of the most prolific schools in Australia in terms of producing Australian footballers. His [[All Australian]] brother, [[Chad Cornes]], also attended Sacred Heart College and played for Glenelg in the SANFL. They are the sons of South Australian football identity [[Graham Cornes]], and stepsons of 2007 Federal Labor candidate [[Nicole Cornes]]. They have three younger half-sisters paternally.

==AFL career==
[[File:Kane Cornes.jpg|thumb|170px|Cornes playing for {{AFL PA}} during the [[2011 AFL season]]]]
===Early career===
In [[2001 Ansett Australia Cup|2001]] and [[2002 Wizard Home Loans Cup|2002]], Cornes played in Port Adelaide's two victorious pre-season premiership teams. Then, in [[2004 AFL season|2004]], as the team went from strength to strength despite losing important finals games to infamously be deemed as 'chokers', Cornes was in the team that won Port Adelaide's first [[List of VFL/AFL premiers|AFL premiership]] at the [[2004 AFL Grand Final]], where he placed third in the voting for the [[Norm Smith Medal]]. 2004 saw Cornes' fourth season in the competition, cementing his position in the midfield while averaging 20 disposals a game. Cornes continued his good form into 2005, becoming [[All Australian|All-Australian]], and in 2006 played his 100th game for the club in round 7. He also topped the AFL Dreamteam competition despite Port Adelaide having a bad year.

===Best and fairest years===
In [[2007 AFL season|2007]], Cornes again won [[All Australian|All-Australian]] selection for the second time in a team otherwise dominated by {{AFL Gee}} players. He was also the leading possession winner in the AFL, received the most [[Brownlow Medal|Brownlow votes]] for the year for Port Adelaide, and won their best and fairest, the [[John Cahill Medal]], ahead of brother [[Chad Cornes|Chad]]. Despite playing in the Port Adelaide side in the [[2007 AFL Grand Final]] that lost to Geelong by a record 119-point margin, Cornes kicked a goal and was deemed among Port Adelaide's best players.

In [[2010 AFL season|2010]], Cornes took out his third [[John Cahill Medal]] and confirmed his reputation as the club's most consistent player through a new attacking role that went beyond his previous role of merely tagging the opposition's best players. His 36-possession, 2-goal game against the {{AFL WB}} in Round 16 of that year was a highlight, in addition to a 38-possession effort against {{AFL WCE}} late in the year. Instrumental in the Power's late season fortunes, his third best and fairest highlighted his durability as a mainstay of the Port Adelaide engine room. 

===Struggles under Primus===
In [[2011 Port Adelaide Football Club season|2011]], Cornes had a difficult season by his standards as he adjusted to a new role which took him further away from his traditional tagging duties. Before 2011, Cornes had not missed a single game since 2003. But round 4, 2011 saw his streak of 174 consecutive games come to an end when he was omitted from the side.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kane Cornes AFL statistics |url=https://www.finalsiren.com/PlayerStats.asp?PlayerID=1184 |website=Final Siren}}</ref> Playing more on the wing and across halfback, he was sent back to {{SANFL Gle}} in the [[SANFL]] with a view to adapting better to the coaching panel's new expectations. He still managed to play 17 games out of a possible 23, despite spending time back at the SANFL Tigers, and was serviceable in his ball-winning ability. Cornes recalls that during this time, coach [[Matthew Primus]] informed him that his "services were no longer needed", and thus Cornes sought out a move to the [[Adelaide Crows]], but nothing came of the move.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DH7QgwKzPAh/?hl=en&img_index=1|website=instagram.com|publisher=[[Seven Network]]|title=Kane Wanted a Trade to the Crows|date=2 April 2025}}</ref>

===Form resurgence===
Cornes made an impressive return to form in 2012, playing every game, and playing an exceptional season as a setup midfielder. He won his fourth [[John Cahill Medal]], equalling the AFL record. He once again topped the disposals count for the season. Cornes received high praise for returning to his acclaimed tagging football with top performances on midfield heavyweights [[Brent Harvey]] ({{AFL NM}}) and [[Gary Ablett, Jr.|Gary Ablett]] ({{AFL GC}}).

Cornes reached his 250th game in Round 5 of 2013, where Port Adelaide came from 41-points down to win 12.12 (84) to 10.19 (79) at [[AAMI Stadium]] against {{AFL WCE}}, taking the Power to a 5–0 start to the season. Shortly after, Cornes passed [[Warren Tredrea]]'s record of 258 games to become the man who has played the most games for Port Adelaide in the AFL, in a match where Port thrashed {{AFL GWS}} at [[Sydney Showground Stadium]], 19.11 (125) to 6.14 (50). Cornes has played a vital role under coach [[Ken Hinkley]] in reinventing Port Adelaide and getting the team back into finals in 2013, and helping the Power to their best ever start to an [[2014 AFL season|AFL season in 2014]], starting 10–1, before eventually losing the 2014 preliminary final to {{AFL Haw}}, the eventual premiers, by three points.

===Late career===
Cornes' [[2015 Port Adelaide Football Club season|2015 season]] was short. He played the first two games of the season before being rested in round three. He then played a further three games to take his career tally to 298 before announcing that the round 8 game against [[Richmond Tigers|Richmond]] would be his 300th and last to join the [[South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service]].<ref name=retire>{{cite news|url=http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2015-05-14/kane-cornes-retires|title=Kane Cornes to retire after becoming Power's first 300-gamer|first=Matthew|last=Agius|date=14 May 2015|website=portadelaide.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref> He finished his Port Adelaide career having played a total of 300 games, winning 4 best and fairest, two [[All Australian]] honours and a premiership.<ref>{{cite web|title=Power veteran Cornes to quit after 300th game|first=Harry|last=Thring|date=14 May 2015|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/199996/power-veteran-cornes-to-quit-after-300th-game|access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref>

== Media career ==
Cornes took up a full-time media career in 2016 after a short tenure with the South Australia Metropolitan Fire Service, where he had been trying to do both, with appearances on [[The Sunday Footy Show (AFL)|The Sunday Footy Show]] and [[1116 SEN]], as well as writing for [[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/kane-cornes/|title=Kane Cornes news from SEN 1116|website=www.sen.com.au|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/kane-cornes|title=AFL Opinion {{!}} The Advertiser|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> and providing expert [https://www.bravotalentmgmt.com/kane-cornes commentary]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kane Cornes |url=https://www.bravotalentmgmt.com/kane-cornes |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Bravo Management |language=en-US}}</ref> for AFL Nation coverage. He has been known for some provocative commentary on leading AFL figures such as [[Patrick Dangerfield]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/patrick-dangerfield-roasts-kane-cornes-with-hilarious-outfit-on-wacky-wednesday-c-471378|title=Patrick Dangerfield roasts Kane Cornes|date=2019-09-25|website=7News Sports|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> and [[Hawthorn Football Club]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/05/09/cornes-i-was-wrong-about-o'meara/|title=Cornes: I was wrong about O'meara|date=2019-09-25|website=SEN Sports|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/jordan-lewis-blasts-disrespectful-kane-cornes-111118957.html|title='He's got a track record': AFL star blasts 'disrespectful' Kane Cornes|date=2019-04-23|website=yahoo!sport|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref> in a challenging manner. He is particularly known for his critical views including an on-going battle of words with [[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide Crows]] player [[Taylor Walker (footballer)|Taylor Walker]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-adelaides-taylor-walker-clips-kane-cornes-over-fireman-career-in-latest-instalment-of-feud/news-story/595a3bf79845f839a1ae7eec7cd9580e|title=AFL 2019: Taylor Walker v Kane Cornes feud, fireman career joke, history of feud between Adelaide captain, Power champion|date=2019-06-21|website=Fox Sports|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref>

In 2021, Cornes conducted a now-infamous [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUkIFjaHy-c interview] with former [[Premier of Victoria|Victorian Premier]] and then Hawthorn Football Club President, [[Jeff Kennett]], where Kennett repeatedly mispronounced Cornes' name and referred to him as "[[Maize|Corn]]" throughout the interview.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Your interpretation is incorrect": Kennett and Cornes go head to head over state of the Hawks |url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/11/04/youre-interpretation-is-incorrect-kennett-and-cornes-go-head-to-head-over |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=www.sen.com.au |language=en}}</ref>{{Relevance inline|discuss=Is this relevant or notable? The video only has 1.5k views and seems more like esoteric trivia.|date=September 2023}}

Cornes is a regularly scheduled broadcaster on [[Sports Entertainment Network|SEN]], hosting various shows, the most notable being Fireball Friday on SEN Breakfast alongside [[David King (footballer, born 1972)|David King]]. Cornes also hosts the regular talkback show Sportsday. In 2024, Cornes joined [[Seven Network]]'s broadcasting team for AFL football, commentating games and hosting various football-related shows on the channel.<ref>{{cite web|title=‘No.1 voice in footy’: Seven spruiks Kane Cornes as recruit for 2025|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/no-1-voice-in-footy-seven-spruiks-kane-cornes-as-new-recruit-for-2025-20240827-p5k5k1.html|publisher=[[The Age]]|website=theage.com.au|first=Jon|last=Pierik|date=27 August 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
On 31 December 2004, Kane married long-time girlfriend, who he met at Sacred Heart College, Lucy.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} They have three children together.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

Cornes was a member of the [[South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service]] for only six months after retiring from the AFL,<ref name=retire/> while also trying to balance working in the media before leaving to take up a solely media based position. He has also provided part-time coaching work at the [[Glenelg Football Club]].

Cornes is an accomplished [[Long-distance running|distance runner]] having finished in the top 30 of the [[Melbourne Marathon]] and [[Gold Coast Marathon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/races/15173/events/1/results/individuals/13|title=(#13) Kane Cornes - MEDIBANK MELBOURNE MARATHON - Medibank Melbourne Marathon Festival (2018)|website=MultiSport Australia|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/races/14763/events/1/results/individuals/18|title=(#18) Kane CORNES - MEDIBANK MELBOURNE MARATHON - Melbourne Marathon (2017)|website=MultiSport Australia|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref>

==Playing statistics==
:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/K/Kane_Cornes.html|title=Kane Cornes|work=AFL Tables|access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref>

{{AFL player statistics legend|p=y}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|-
| [[2001 AFL season|2001]] || {{AFL PA}} || 39
| 7 || 1 || 4 || 47 || 34 || 81 || 20 || 8 || 0.1 || 0.6 || 6.7 || 4.9 || 11.6 || 2.9 || 1.1 || 0
|-
| [[2002 AFL season|2002]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 15 || 3 || 4 || 136 || 54 || 190 || 40 || 39 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 9.1 || 3.6 || 12.7 || 2.7 || 2.6 || 0
|-
| [[2003 AFL season|2003]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 22 || 12 || 10 || 195 || 86 || 281 || 88 || 51 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 8.9 || 3.9 || 12.8 || 4.0 || 2.3 || 0
|-
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[2004 AFL season|2004]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 25 || 12 || 10 || 302 || 197 || 499 || 131 || 57 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 12.1 || 7.9 || 20.0 || 5.2 || 2.3 || 6
|-
| [[2005 AFL season|2005]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 24 || 18 || 10 || 338 || 252 || 590 || 135 || 58 || 0.8 || 0.4 || 14.1 || 10.5 || 24.6 || 5.6 || 2.4 || 7
|-
| [[2006 AFL season|2006]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 22 || 7 || 11 || 344 || 253 || 597 || 145 || 73 || 0.3 || 0.5 || 15.6 || 11.5 || 27.1 || 6.6 || 3.3 || 7
|-
| [[2007 AFL season|2007]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 25 || 11 || 9 || 360 || 336 || 696 || 170 || 94 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 14.4 || 13.4 || 27.8 || 6.8 || 3.8 || 13
|-
| [[2008 AFL season|2008]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 22 || 5 || 4 || 268 || 345 || 613 || 128 || 79 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 12.2 || 15.7 || 27.9 || 5.8 || 3.6 || 3
|-
| [[2009 AFL season|2009]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 22 || 7 || 4 || 286 || 310 || 596 || 106 || 76 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 13.0 || 14.1 || 27.1 || 4.8 || 3.5 || 4
|-
| [[2010 AFL season|2010]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 22 || 4 || 4 || 271 || 335 || 606 || 103 || 103 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 12.3 || 15.2 || 27.5 || 4.7 || 4.7 || 6
|-
| [[2011 AFL season|2011]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 17 || 1 || 1 || 180 || 194 || 374 || 70 || 58 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 10.6 || 11.4 || 22.0 || 4.1 || 3.4 || 0
|-
| [[2012 AFL season|2012]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 22 || 5 || 6 || 282 || 278 || 560 || 124 || 64 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 12.8 || 12.6 || 25.5 || 5.6 || 2.9 || 3
|-
| [[2013 AFL season|2013]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 23 || 5 || 4 || 341 || 289 || 630 || 127 || 107 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 14.8 || 12.6 || 27.4 || 5.5 || 4.7 || 8
|-
| [[2014 AFL season|2014]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 25 || 1 || 5 || 328 || 279 || 607 || 132 || 111 || 0.0 || 0.2 || 13.1 || 11.2 || 24.3 || 5.3 || 4.4 || 5
|-
| [[2015 AFL season|2015]] || {{AFL PA}} || 18
| 7 || 1 || 0 || 74 || 66 || 140 || 37 || 25 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 10.6 || 9.4 || 20.0 || 5.3 || 3.6 || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 300 !! 93 !! 86 !! 3752 !! 3308 !! 7060 !! 1556 !! 1003 !! 0.3 !! 0.3 !! 12.5 !! 11.0 !! 23.5 !! 5.2 !! 3.3 !! 62
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Portplayer}}
*{{AFL Tables|K/Kane_Cornes}}
*{{AustralianFootball|kane+cornes/14317}}

{{2004 Port Adelaide premiership players}}
{{John Cahill Medal}}
{{2005 All-Australian team}}
{{2007 All-Australian team}}
{{2008 Dream Team players}}
{{2000 AFL national draft}}
{{Southern Football League Greatest Exports Team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cornes, Kane}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-Australians (AFL)]]
[[Category:Port Adelaide Football Club players]]
[[Category:Port Adelaide Football Club premiership players]]
[[Category:Port Adelaide Football Club players (all competitions)]]
[[Category:John Cahill Medal winners]]
[[Category:Glenelg Football Club players]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Adelaide]]
[[Category:Cornes family|Kane]]
[[Category:Brighton Districts and Old Scholars Football Club players]]
[[Category:People educated at Sacred Heart College (Adelaide)]]
[[Category:VFL/AFL premiership players]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]