PORT Adelaide coach Matt Primus insists three-time best and fairest winner Kane Cornes is a required player at Alberton in response to media reports the 28-year-old will be traded, or sacked by the club at the end of the season.

Primus has been steadfast in his approach to rebuilding the struggling club with youth, controversially dropping experienced players Kane and Chad Cornes and Daniel Motlop, as well as mainstays Jacob Surjan, Danyle Pearce and Steven Salopek over the course of the season.

"Kane certainly hasn't been sacked or been told he'll be traded," Primus told FIVEaa on Monday night.

"Kane has a contract here and at the moment is a required player.

"I know it gets topical the list management at all clubs and what they're doing, but I don't like to get into discussions about that until that time of the year comes around."

Cornes' run of 174-consecutive games - the longest streak in the AFL at the time - came to an end in round four when he was omitted from the team to play Adelaide.

Once regarded as the best negating player in the League, Cornes has been relieved of his tagging duties this season, with the Power - like most teams - placing more emphasis on team defence rather than tight individual tags, and experimenting with younger players in shut-down roles.

As a result, the one-time All Australian and premiership player has struggled to find his niche in the new-look Port Adelaide team.

There's been speculation Port Adelaide will seek to trade Cornes, a father to three young sons, to cross-town rivals the Crows, who struggled to stop the opposition team's best ball winner during their tough start to the season.

Cornes has two years to run on his existing contract, having received a three-year extension following his third best and fairest win last season but that didn't prevent him being touted as potential trade bait in the off-season.

The reports of the younger Cornes brother's demise at Alberton come less than a fortnight after 31-year-old Chad Cornes announced his retirement.

Chad Cornes was limited to only nine matches in his final season while ruckman Dean Brogan will also retire at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, South Australian Football Commission chairman Rob Olsen has dismissed speculation the SANFL will seek to drop the 'Port' from Port Adelaide's name in a bid to broaden the cash-strapped club's appeal.

In a statement released on Monday, Olsen said: "The Commission is not considering removing the name Port Adelaide.

"It cannot do so without the approval of the club, which again is a matter that is contained in the Port Adelaide constitution."