PORT ADELAIDE’s defence coach Chad Cornes has described his new role as a “dream job”, saying he is excited about working with a backline group that has been amongst the AFL’s best in recent years.
Cornes was elevated into the backline coaching role in the off-season after being a development coach in recent years.
He replaces Brett Montgomery who has taken over the midfield.
During a press conference on Monday, Cornes paid tribute to his 2004 premiership teammate Montgomery for leaving him a strong foundation to work with.
“When I moved back from GWS being the backline coach was the dream job and the thing I wanted to aspire to,” Cornes said.
“There’s been two guys who have done it so well before me in Nathan Bassett and the job that Brett Montgomery has done over the last couple of years – he’s one of the best coaches I’ve seen in my time in footy – so I’m taking over a group that’s been really well coached.
“They’re an experienced group. In terms of stats and those kinds of things, they’re right up there at the top in the AFL.
“I’ve loved the way they’ve played over the last couple of years so it is an honour to take over this role and like I said, it was the dream when I moved back.”
Port’s backline was the meanest in the competition in 2020 and ranked third for total points against in 2021.
Cornes described the group as “rock solid” suggesting only minor changes would be made to improve how the group goes about it.
He said delisted free agent Sam Skinner had settled in well in his first three months at the club and was impressing coaches and teammates with his training and leadership.
“Even in a drill we did today which required the defenders to be vocal and instruct the guys in front of them, which they always need to do, but for a guy in his second or third month, with the leadership he shows on the track, how vocal and directive he is during drills has been really impressive to see,” Cornes explained.
“And, not only that. His intercept marking ability is very high so the Port fans should be pretty excited about a guy like that coming in and he’s also got a point to prove.
“He’s really driven, he’s had some really unlucky incidents with injury but we’re lucky to have him.”
Another Cornes singled out for special mention is second year player Lachie Jones, who missed chunks of his debut season in 2021 with injury.
Cornes expects the big-bodied half back to have Port Adelaide supporters excited.
“He’s had a full pre-season so far, we know how powerful and explosive he is, he’s just worked really hard on tidying up a few of his skills so the way he’s going, he’s put himself right in line for a round 1 position,” the backline mentor said.
“Tom Clurey has also been really impressive. He’s had a real point to prove from the way things ended for him last year, so there is some really nice competition within the backline group.
“(As I said) Sam Skinner has come in and shown some really impressive signs too so I like that there’s that competition within the group. Their training standard is really high.
“The competition against our forward line has been great and really competitive so I’m pretty excited about where the backline group are placed in particular.”
With less than 50 days until the club’s opening game of the season at the Gabba against Brisbane, Cornes said he had yet to settle on his back six or seven.
“If I had to do it right now, it would be very tough. I think there’s probably five or six guys who pick themselves at this stage,” Cornes said.
“That doesn’t mean they’ll be a lock going forward but they deserve the chance to line up in Round 1.
“There’s definitely a couple of spots up for grabs so that competition within a line group is great. I love the competition between them and it’s driving really high training standards.”
