Kane Cornes has handed down his weekly observations following the Round 11 action of the 2023 AFL season.
The Port Adelaide champion has taken a close look at a Sydney defender, a Carlton forward, Richmond’s list, Brisbane’s footwear and more.
Read his observations below:
1 - Is Nick Blakey a top-30 player in the game?
“After Round 5 we had a bit of a round table about the value of Nick Blakey,” Cornes said on SEN's Sportsday.
“I posed the question is he a top-30 AFL player. Gerard (Healy) had him top 30 and I had him top 30.
“I understand these top 30s and 40s and 150s are hard to judge, but where do you have him in terms of an absolute weapon in the game?”
Luke Hodge replied: “He was really good on Friday night.
“He took six intercept marks in the last quarter and seven for the game. What was so catching was his run off half-back and that left boot.
“He is a quality player, but would I have 30 blokes in front of him? I still would. Just because of the damaging blokes throughout the midfield and forwards.”
Cornes added: “He’s a very impressive young player and I’ve really enjoyed his growth.”
2 - What do the Blues with Harry McKay?
“What do they do with Harry McKay now, with the contract that he’s got until 2030?”
Sam Edmund asked: “So he’s going through a spell of rough kicking and you’d trade him?”
Cornes replied: “My concern for the Blues is how hamstrung they are with their list and the lack of emerging talent coming through.
“We all thought Collingwood, and I put my hand up, were crazy with their salary cap purge they did a couple of years ago.
“It was confronting and disrespectful but they did it, they ripped the Band-Aid off and look what it’s done.
“It’s almost at the point where the Blues are going to have to do something drastic if the year continues to play out this way.
“Could Sydney have a look at McKay with the money that will be freed up with Lance Franklin (potentially retiring) there? They’ve always been in for a forward.
“This is just the decisions and discussions Carlton should be having to explore perhaps what they can do with him.”
3 - Is Richmond’s list in a world of pain?
“Port Adelaide had 10 players under 24 on Sunday, Richmond had seven.
“How many of the seven that Richmond had do you predict will be 200-game players?
“Jack Ross I’ve got as a no, won’t get to 200 games.
“Hugo Ralphsmith is a goer, he has a crack, there’s something about him that’s admirable, but I don’t think he’s going to get to 200.
“Noah Balta, yes, definitely a 200-game player.
“Rhyan Mansell, once again it’s early and hard to judge and he plays a really difficult position. He’s got attributes that I really like, I reckon he’ll get to 150. I’m not giving him 200.
“Samson Ryan I’ve got as a no. Maybe harsh because he’s a developing forward and he’s really tall and they take some time.
“Judson Clarke I think will, and Ben Miller is a no.
“Then you look at who they played against and the 10 under-24s the Power had - Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis, Miles Bergman, there’s bit to like about Ollie Lord but not sure whether he gets to 200, Dylan Williams there’s a bit to like about him.
“Are they (the Tigers) in a world of pain with their list?”
4 - Is Chris Scott panicking?
“Chris Scott is on the outside very calm and measured, but I think he’s panicking.
“Why is Sam De Koning playing forward? The easiest way to derail someone’s career is to throw them all over the place.
“That happens to some versatile players, I’ve got a bit of sympathy for players that go through that. That disruption hurts. He just looked like the most impressive player that we’ve seen in a long time out of Geelong, maybe since Joel Selwood.
“Now he’s forward and he looks lost, I get there’s been some issues with his body.
“The Henry boys (Jack and Ollie), one was back and one was forward, then they swapped. Tyson Stengle is playing on-ball, Mitch Knevitt is playing on-ball.
“He (Scott) is so confused with which lineup he wants to go with. I’ve got so much faith in him as a coach and I’m not going to write Geelong off, I’m nowhere near that, but he just needs to settle that lineup down and that starts with De Koning.”
5 - Did Brisbane lose to the Crows because of footwear?
“I could make the case that Brisbane lost the game to the Crows at the Adelaide Oval because players didn’t wear screw-in boots.
“I had Charlie Cameron almost running into an open goal with his speed, that was going to end up in a goal. That was one.
“I had Jarrod Berry slipping over in the goal square which cost a goal to Ned McHenry and Lincoln McCarthy slipped over at the 19th-minute mark of the last quarter.
“You cannot wear the metal-tipped studs but there’s a longer blade/stop version for soft ground. It had rained all week in Adelaide, under lights, raining, and it annoys me.
“The evenness of this competition and they lose by 17 points. Three goals happened because players fell over.”
6 - Does Jack Riewoldt need to go back to the VFL?
“Does Jack Riewoldt need to go back to the VFL? Or is there any point playing Jack Riewoldt now?
“His form on Sunday, just five touches, his opponent Aliir Aliir was unbelievable for Port Adelaide.
“The previous week he had 11, he’s kicked three goals in five weeks.
“Their season is over, is it time to farewell the champions of that footy club?
“Is there any benefit to playing Trent Cotchin and Riewoldt particularly when there’s an elephant in the room with their form?”
7 - Has anyone checked on Warren Tredrea?
“Has anyone checked on ‘Tredders’?
“It’s Hawthorn this week to make it nine in a row for Port Adelaide.”