“I’M not someone who tends to look back and dwell on what happened in the past, but when I retire it will mean a fair bit to have played the most games for this great club, particularly with so many great players who have played before.”

That’s what Kane Cornes said to portadelaidefc.com.au back in 2013 after becoming Port Adelaide’s overall games leader in the AFL.

He’d just played his 256^th game against GWS , overtaking premiership skipper Warren Tredrea as the Power's games record holder, and was playing some of the best footy of his career.

At around 7:00pm on Sunday night, his tally will end on 300 games as he walks away from the sport that has encompassed his life for more than 15 years.

When you consider all the football played at Glenelg and Sacred Heart, additional to his Power tenure, it’s been a little closer to 20 years.

In fact when you think about it, Cornes’s life has simply been football, what with his father Graham coaching the SANFL Tigers and the Crows since Kane was born.

It’s been a life in football for Kane, and it ends tonight.

It will be the moment where he truly steps out of the shadow of his successful family as he is chaired from the Adelaide Oval and applauded by his team, his opponents, and a legion of fans at the ground for an impeccable career.

Keith Thomas, Port Adelaide’s CEO, has had a significant impact on Cornes’s final years in the AFL, both as a friend and mentor. 

He summed up the significance of Sunday’s game when he highlighted the role Cornes will play. It’s practically the same role he’s played ever since Mark Williams decided he should become the Power's main tagger.

“For the 300th time, Kane will be lining up against the opposition player considered most likely to stop us from winning," Thomas said.

“Think about the pressure associated with that job, week, after week, after week for 15 years.

“Kane has done that job outstandingly well - probably better than anyone else in the league - for his entire career.”

Few could argue with that.

He’s taken on and beaten some of the biggest names in the game, he’s been the immovable object Port’s coaches have placed before the unstoppable forces of other midfields.

Simon Black, Sam Mitchell, Andrew McLeod, Brent Harvey, Chris Judd, Jason Akermanis, these are just a few names that have been assigned to the Cornes job sheet throughout the years.

It’s an impressive resume.

To those growing up watching AFL in the early 2000s, Kane was a beacon of inspiration – a not-so-old player among a team of men, rising to be one of Port Adelaide’s best.

A premiership player, twice an All-Australian a four-time best and fairest and more besides, Cornes has done it all.

When he looks back on his career, be it on Sunday night, next week or in years to come, he can do so with pride.

“300 games in 15 years at the one place, it’s like my family,” Cornes said of his career on Friday.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet and I haven’t really had a chance to think about it – probably by design – I’ve just been trying to train as best I can and prepare to have one last, good game of footy.

“I think when the siren goes, it might hit me then.”

Cornes joins Russell Ebert, Greg Phillips, Darren Smith and Tim Ginever as 300-game players for the Port Adelaide Football Club.