Chad Cornes Biography

Port Adelaide re-signs assistant coaches Michael Voss and Chad Cornes, while senior assistant coach Matthew Nicks and development coach Aaron Greaves will leave the club at the end of the 2018 season.

Port Adelaide runner Chad Cornes has been handed a one-game suspension for swearing at North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein.

The incident occurred when Goldstein was involved in a collision with Power vice-captain Ollie Wines in the third quarter of the round six clash at Etihad Stadium.

Goldstein was subsequently fined $1500 for misconduct against Wines.

"Cornes' actions had the potential to escalate an on-field incident and was a major breach of his role," AFL Football Operations Manager Steve Hocking said.

Greater Western Sydney assistant coach Chad Cornes will return to Port Adelaide to replace Garry Hocking as coach of the club's SANFL side.

Hocking is expected to move back into a full-time AFL role alongside Power coach Ken Hinkley.

Senior coach Leon Cameron thanked Cornes for his service.

"Chad has played a crucial role in establishing a tough and ruthless culture at the Giants and we thank him for his efforts over the past four years," Cameron said.

"When he joined the Giants, Chad added much needed experience to our playing list and his leadership showed our young players what it takes to succeed at AFL level.

"As a coach, Chad has done a terrific job working with our young backline and developed a great rapport with our players and staff."

Former AFL players Tony Modra, Chad Cornes, Matthew Primus and Tyson Edwards were among 10 contributors to South Australian football inducted into the SA Football Hall of Fame.

Chad Cornes announces his retirement due to an ongoing knee injury.

"It's time to do something else and move on to the coaching side of things," Cornes said.

"My knee's just not coming along as I would hope.

"It's a shame, but I'm putting my focus in to try to help out with the coaching and help these young kids, which I'm really enjoying."

Chad Cornes concedes his career may be over after failing to recover from knee surgery.

"I'm still pushing forward with rehab, but time is starting to run out, so I'm not sure if I'll get back by the end of the year," Cornes said.

"I was hoping to get back by the middle of the year, it's the middle of the year now and I'm not seeing any real improvement with my knee.

Giants veteran James McDonald has retired after 264 AFL games, but defender Chad Cornes will play on in 2013.

"James' experience, leadership and on-field presence have been invaluable to our young playing group and he has shown everyone that he still had good football left in him," general football manager Graeme Allan said.

"We now look forward to him becoming a full-time assistant coach next year and further developing our young playing list."

Veteran Chad Cornes has made a huge impression on the young Giants in just 11 matches after 239 games with Power.

"I was pretty nervous going up. I wasn't sure if I'd made the right decision but from day one I'm just so rapt that I did," Cornes said.

"It's a great group of boys. They're tough, they're hard, they play footy the way it should be played.

"I love being around the group and the coaches have really included us. We're involved in all the coaches' meetings, getting some experience in that side of footy which is great.

"I couldn't be happier with the move."

Veteran ruckman Dean Brogan says Chad Cornes is going well enough to play for a 15th season next year.

The boys love playing with Chad and there's no reason why he couldn't run around again next year," Brogan said.

"I really hope he does. Full credit to him because a lot of people said he was finished last year. But he went away and got his body right and a change of scenery has probably been good for him."

On the eve of his 250th game, Chad Cornes says he's keen to extend his career into a 15th season next year with Greater Western Sydney.

"I definitely want to keep playing next year, so we'll just see what happens in that department," Cornes said.

"The body is feeling pretty good at this stage, so if the club want me to play on - and we've had a brief discussion about it - I would love to."

John McCarthy will wear Port Adelaide legend Chad Cornes' former number, 35, in 2012.

"I've got Cornesy's number, No.35, which is full-on and exciting," McCarthy said.

"I've certainly got some big shoes to fill and it's an honour to be given his jumper."

Port Adelaide has left itself open to raids on its uncontracted players, but the club is still very happy with its trade week results after swapping veterans Chad Cornes, Dean Brogan and pick 69 for pick 49.

"We would have loved to have been protected from losing another uncontracted player in the future but that was never going to happen," Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said.

"We wanted to make sure we did the right thing by them, wanted to get some value for our club out of it as well and to be honest, we would have been delisting them in a couple of weeks' time."

After being traded from the Power, Chad Cornes will play a season with GWS before moving into the club's sports science department.

"It's sort of been a bit up in the air the last couple of days, not knowing if it was going to go through, so to have it done today is a relief," Cornes said.

"I tried to end on good terms with everyone at Port and I think I did that. I leave there with no hard feelings. I loved my time there, everyone was really good to me [and] now I move onto a new chapter."

GWS has agreed to compensate the Power for the rights to "retired" players Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan.

"We've had talks with GWS and they've agreed to deal with us at some stage during trade week," Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said.

"GWS has some other deals to do before we can sort something out, but we're pleased it has agreed to work with us to come to an arrangement."

Retired Port veterans Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan are reported by the media to be signing with GWS and Power captain Dom Cassisi says he would fully support their decision to do so.

"Chad and 'Broges' have been great servants of our football club. They've given the club every bit of what they could deliver, and we can't question that," Cassisi said.

"If they decide they've got another year in them and there's an opportunity there, I think they'd be silly not to take it."

GWS coach Kevin Sheedy confirms interest in retired Port veterans Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan.

"We've had discussions with them, no doubt, and I've read that today," Sheedy said.

"If they're capable of wanting to come up here and help build this team, then we will be interested in those sorts of players and other players that would be interested."

Retiring Power great Chad Cornes says he will erase from his memory the 138-point loss to the Magpies in his final match.

"It wasn't the best way to finish, but I won't remember that game," he said.

"I'll remember the way our fans have always treated me, the support and respect they've given me especially this week. It's really been amazing and I can't thank them enough."

Retiring Port Adelaide veteran Chad Cornes admits his close relationship with coach Matthew Primus has been strained this year.

"It's been really tough for both of us," Cornes told Triple M radio.

"We're great mates off the field when we were playing. I sat down with Matty this pre-season and he made it pretty clear that it was going to be a tough year for me and really hard to get a game. There's no doubt it's been frustrating for me."

Chad Cornes announces his retirement and will play his farewell game at AAMI Stadium in round 20 against Collingwood.

"You'd love to play forever, but I think my time is up," Cornes said.

"I'm pretty comfortable with the decision now and have had no thought of playing anywhere else. You've just got to realise when your time is up. I'm very much retired."

Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus hailed Cornes as one of the Power's greatest ever players.

"His competitive spirit and passion for our club week in, week out, has him held in such high regard by our fans, his teammates and his coaches,'' Primus said.

Port Adelaide veteran Chad Cornes has denied speculation that he is about to retire, saying he has every intention of playing on despite not being able to consolidate a place in the current Power side.

"I don't have any intentions of retiring until the club gets rid of me," Cornes said.

"I'm still enjoying it and I love playing on game day. Day-to-day and during the week can be a bit of a slog, not knowing whether you're playing or not, but I still love playing footy and the body's feeling good, so until the club tell me to or until I get pushed out, I'll keep playing."

Port Adelaide veteran Chad Cornes is hoping to re-establish himself as a leader of the club after making his way back into the team in round 2 against the Eagles at home.

"It felt a bit like a first game again. It was really exciting and the support from the crowd and my family and friends has been really good and helped me get through a pretty tough time," he said.

"It was good to get out there and get a couple of kicks, but I've still got a lot of work to do."

Forgotten star Chad Cornes is a chance to play in round two after a knee injury has ruled out key forward Jay Schulz.

"In Chad's case he's done everything right," Power coach Matthew Primus said.

"He's gone back to the Bays and played really well. Jay's injury is disappointing, but it might open the door up for Chad."

Chad Cornes has been left out of Port Adelaide's 24 for this weekend's NAB Challenge match, but that doesn't mean he won't play in round one according to Power coach Matthew Primus.

"Chad's performed well in our first two NAB Cup games and that [his place in the team] will play out not only over the next couple of weeks, but over the [course of] the season," Primus said.

"He's going to be important because he knows how to play a full season. He's a mature body and we're going to need that around our younger guys."

Port Adelaide veteran Chad Cornes has been told by new coach Matthew Primus that he is not guaranteed a place in the team this season.

"The club's stance is to play young players this year. They're aiming for their next premiership and are building towards that and I fully understand where he's coming from," Cornes said.

"If there's a young kid playing as well as I am and training as well as I am the young kid will get the go, but if I'm training better than them, playing better than them and doing all the right things off the field then I'll get a go."

Chad Cornes says he may need to consult a psychologist to help him regain his best form again.

"It must all be in my head, so whether I see someone - a psyschologist or something like that - to help me get that form back, who knows?" Cornes said.

"But I'll be doing everything I can to get back that form."

Port Adelaide defender Jackson Trengove says senior Power player Chad Cornes will be needed to help the club's developing list next year.

"Chad's a super player and [it's important] especially for the young guys to look up and have someone like Chad there to work off of," Trengove said.

"I've already said to him that I'll be trying to follow in his footsteps during the pre-season because he goes about it at a different level to everyone else."

Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus says Chad Cornes may miss the rest of the season after injuring himself in the SANFL with a broken finger.

"Chad's seeing a surgeon tomorrow," Primus said.

"Whatever hand [that his injured finger is on] is the same one that he's got a few other fingers banged up on as well. He'll see a surgeon and they'll decide whether they need to operate of if he can get through the next five weeks with it."

Caretaker coach Matthew Primus says Chad Cornes' AFL career is not over despite being sent to the SANFL for the second week in a row.

"Chad's form [for Glenelg] was OK on the weekend, but we want to see a little bit more from him. It made it a little bit difficult with him playing onball because we wanted to see him down back ... but he held himself well, went back with the right attitude and gave a pretty good effort," Primus said.

"Chad does have to get back into some form, but by no means has he already been stamped away from this club. He's too good a player and has too much pride to let that happen."

Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes is confident brother Chad can return to his best form after looking indifferent on the field this year.

"His form hasn't been great and up to the standard that he's set over a long period of time. He's disappointed with that, but he's still really enthusiastic. He still trains as hard as anyone and does all the extra stuff, so he's still looking to get the best out of himself," Kane Cornes said.

"His passion and his hunger is still there and that's a huge motivation for him. When he's got that, that's when he does play his best footy. The last seven games are really important for him to get some momentum going into next year."

Chad Cornes' waning form comes under the spotlight after he tallied just four touches against Hawthorn while his season disposals and marks averages are the lowest it has been years.

"Chad's probably the best one to answer why he's not playing at his absolute best but the game has changed and he's learning a new role," Port Adelaide assistant coach Jason Cripps said.

"He's a dual All-Australian centre half-back who was a very dominant defender but the game has moved on - it's played a bit differently now."

Chad Cornes is given an opportunity to redeem himself following a dismal four possession game against the Hawks after being selected to face Sydney.

"We sat and talked about, he knows it, and he's appreciative of the fact that he has got another chance to play this week," Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams said.

"With all the credits Chad has earned over the years, he has certainly earned one more game, that is for sure."

Chad Cornes says his return to form in 2010 has given him enough confidence to resume sledging his opponents, a tactic he deliberately scaled back last year.

"When you do that, you have to back that performance up because you can't be out there bagging people and not putting your head over the ball or playing hard, contested footy yourself," Cornes said.

"Last year, when my confidence was down and my body was sore and tired, it's not the main thing on your mind. You're more focussed on getting a kick and getting your body right. It's a bit of a cop out, but when you're feeling good it's easier to do that kind of stuff."

Port Adelaide has trimmed Kane Cornes, Chad Cornes and Daniel Motlop from a leadership group expected to retain Domenic Cassisi as skipper.

"I had five or six great years in the leadership group and really enjoyed my time, but probably with the stage the footy club is at and how young the group is it's time to give someone else a go," Kane Cornes said.

"We need to develop these guys as quick as we can because that's going to be the best thing for the footy club going forward. It's pretty exciting with the new leadership structure."

Power fitness coach Cam Falloon says veteran Chad Cornes is over his knee injury and has had his best off-season in three years.

"He's done a lot of work and his body is sound. He's trimmed down a little bit and his knee is fantastic," Falloon said.

"Chad's very confident in his body. He put a lot of miles into his legs over the off-season and he's had no niggles. He's in a completely different place to the last few pre-seasons."

Port Adelaide's Chad Cornes admits he is not a big fan of Carlton and that he looks forward to playing against Blues full-forward Brendan Fevola.

"I like playing Carlton and it's fair to say we probably don't love each other as two clubs. There's a few players in the Carlton opposition that we'd like to get under their skin," Cornes said.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says full forward Brendan Fevola will not be rattled on the field by any niggling from Chad Cornes despite Cornes saying he would try to "get under the skin" of some Carlton players.

"I don't think we have to worry about Brendan with his mindset in the game, I think he has played footy long enough, he's an experienced campaigner," Ratten said.

"Would Chad Cornes be the first to verbally attack Brendan Fevola on the football field? Brendan has played 200 games, he's probably got a list of 150 blokes plus others that have chipped in as well.

"He won't be the first and he won't be the last."

Chad Cornes set to play this weekend against Demons after speedy recovery from knee surgery.

"It's recovered a lot quicker than what I had done last year, and it's feeling a lot better as well," he said.

"The surgeon said that the knee has definitely got a couple of years, at least, left in it if it all goes to plan.

"I still think I've got some good footy in front of me. I'm not at all happy with where I'm sitting right now and what I've done over the last couple of years. I'm a pretty proud person and I want to play the footy I know I can and help the boys get back into the finals."

Chad Cornes created a motivational video, consisting of player highlights set to music, for his Power teammates playing against Brisbane to make up for being injured on the sidelines.

"I felt pretty useless. You feel helpless sitting around being injured when the team is in the situation we were in last week," Cornes said.

"I was sick and tired of hearing people outside the club abusing us. Everywhere I looked, people were bagging us, and that kind of fired me up a bit."

"The video was basically highlights of the best thing the boys have ever done in a game. Who knows if it had any effect on the game ... I just felt like I could do something to help the group win on the weekend."

Chad Cornes is rapt that Mark Williams will remain coach of Port Adelaide.

"After 10 years you might think you'd get sick of having just the one coach, but it's the complete opposite for me," Cornes wrote in an article for AFL.com.au.

"I'm rapt that Choco is going to be my coach, hopefully, for the rest of my career.

"It was a relief on Tuesday to learn that he's going to be our coach for the next two years and to remove all the uncertainty hanging around the place."

Port Adelaide star Chad Cornes is set to miss up to six weeks with leg injuries.

Port football manager Peter Rohde said yesterday Cornes had been having problems with his knee, but injured his calf in the third quarter of Sunday's 38-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG.

"The fact that he's going to miss a few weeks with his calf might mean we look after his knee as well," Rohde said.

Port Adelaide's Chad Cornes will undergo arthroscopy this week and miss at least the next month of football.

Chad Cornes has tipped Josh Carr to show today against Hawthorn why Port Adelaide desperately wanted him back.

"I'm sure Carry will step up against Hawthorn," Cornes said.

"He's taken a little bit of time to find his feet since he's returned - there's been a lot of pressure on all of us to get the season off to a good start - but he'll want to step up and fill Dom's shoes.

"He's looking forward to this game, the chance to make a statement, and I'm sure he's ready to hit his straps and play the way he did with us before he went to Fremantle."

Chad Cornes is disappointed with Essendon's Andrew Lovett's role in Power ruckman Dean Brogan suspension.

Lovett's evidence at the AFL Tribunal was pivotal in Brogan being suspended for one match for engaging in rough conduct against the Bomber midfielder at quarter-time of last Sunday's match.

Lovett told the tribunal he was shocked to be forcefully bumped from behind by Brogan during the break in play.

Cornes intimated that Lovett broke an unwritten players' code of not implicating an opponent at the tribunal.

Port Adelaide utility Chad Cornes, who plays his 200th game on Sunday, admits the early stages of his career were a struggle.

"My first two or three years here were a real struggle and I didn’t enjoy that time much at all," Cornes said.

"I'm not putting the blame on Choco. It was mainly the way I was playing and being disappointed in myself. I got dropped to the Glenelg reserves and that was pretty embarrassing. Being on an AFL list and playing reserves in the SANFL was not where I thought I would be."

Port Adelaide onballer Shaun Burgoyne says his side has up to four added reasons to beat West Coast on Sunday.

Ruckman Dean Brogan's suspension could open the door for a fourth Port Adelaide milestone against West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

Utility Chad Cornes (200 games), onballer Shaun Burgoyne (150) and forward Brett Ebert (100) could now be joined by defender Toby Thurstans, who is also on the eve of his 100th game.

"The club makes a really big deal of milestone games," Burgoyne said. "I remember when I first got here, the club really drummed it into the guys to reward the players with a win and to go out there and play for the guys' milestones."

Port Adelaide's Chad Cornes, has done a remarkable U-turn and put up his hand for the captaincy.

Chad Cornes is alleged to have assaulted his stepfather, SA National Football League Magarey medallist Fred Phillis who files a complaint with the police.

The incident occurred while Cornes and his brother, Kane, were helping their mother, Pam, move out of the home she had shared with Phillis after complications had arisen in their marriage.

Cornes says he is disappointed at police investigations into what he claims is a trivial issue between the two parties.

"I am disappointed that a very minor altercation involving myself and Fred, which was no more than a push, occurred at all," Cornes said in a statement.

"We have not spoken to all parties, but believe the matter to be minor and essentially a family issue."

Phillis, however, disagreed, saying, "I can't comment, but three of them and one of me. Two are AFL footballers and I'm 59. You work it out."