Chad Cornes was a talented niggler and an even better centre half-back, but it’s as a mentor that he truly got his kicks in the AFL.
Cornes on Wednesday announced his retirement due to a chronic knee injury, bringing an end to a 255-game career that started with Port Adelaide after the 1997 draft and ended in Greater Western Sydney’s coaches box 16 years later.
The dual All-Australian says he’ll look back on Port’s 2004 grand final win and grudge matches against Adelaide with much fondness.
But also on the list of career highlights is GWS’s maiden clash with Sydney and their first win – against Gold Coast in Canberra last year.
“I enjoyed the big games (with the Power) … but our first win and our first game against Sydney, they’re games I’ll remember as well,” Cornes said.
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“I’ll look back on last year as one of the more memorable times I had in football, so I can’t thank the club enough for including me.”
Cornes initially hung up the boots in 2011, but was tempted out of retirement to help guide the expansion side’s draftees in their first AFL season.
It’s a role he’d like to continue off the field.
“I’ve loved my time here, and I will continue to keep loving it hopefully,” Cornes said.
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“…I’ve been given four or five young defenders to really mentor and take under my wing.
“I’ll meet with them 2-3 times a week, go through their tapes with them.
“I train with them, do extra sessions with them.
“That’s something I’ve really enjoyed and I can’t wait to get stuck into the rest of the season.”
GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said Cornes would make a smooth transition to full-time coaching if he decided to do that in 2014.
“He’s been terrific around the club. His attitude is very, very professional and he will make a very, very good coach if he wants to move into that category,” Sheedy said.
Ever since his knee was infected after pre-season surgery this year, Cornes had doubts he would ever play again.
“I went for a run in the break (GWS’s recent bye week) and I couldn’t even jog 20 minutes. I think it will heal in time, but I don’t have that,” Cornes said of when he knew his time was officially up.
