Cornes criticizes players who expect the best of both worlds with long-term contracts

bdixlivetvAugust 20, 2024

Former Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes has criticised the influence of AFL player agents in football after reports emerged that several high-profile players are looking to switch clubs despite being on long-term contracts.

Speaking on his morning show on SEN Radio, the commentator supported the view of Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge that some clubs were being blackmailed if they did not comply with players’ wishes.

“A player’s agent might say, ‘You have a player at your club who is being signed by our management team. He wants out and if you don’t let him go, you’re no longer in the running for our other clients who want to come to your club,'” Cornes said.

“That’s the power that the agents have. They have too much power and the clubs have none.”

“We are in a mess that is affecting the clubs and the competitive balance. Agents are running around causing absolute chaos and carnage at the moment.”

In recent weeks, there have been a number of transfer rumors about players who had signed long-term contracts but were “unhappy” and wanted to leave their current clubs before their contracts were up.

According to reports, Christian Petracca wants to leave Melbourne, even though his contract runs until 2029. Richmond star Shai Bolton is also said to have asked to return to Western Australia for family reasons.

Christian Petracca. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Tigers player’s management have denied he asked for a transfer and the Demons insist Petracca will stay at their club. Cornes, however, is not happy about the number of players reportedly trying to get out of their contracts while saying clubs are tied to them.

“It’s ridiculous how many players, like Tom Barrass, say, ‘I’ve got three years left, I was happy to sign this contract about a year ago, but now I want to leave and go to the sexy Hawks because things aren’t going to be so good on the West Coast for the next three to four years – I’m out.’

“But then West Coast can’t say: ‘We have a player under contract and another club wants to take over the contract, but we can’t give him away’ because he is under contract.”

His SEN co-host Nathan Buckley also called for clubs to be given more power in the transfer of players.

“When you sign a contract and get it done, there is no doubt about your commitment to this group of players, this club, this organisation and its direction,” said the former Collingwood captain and coach.

“That could change in 2-3 years. So if you sign a six, seven or eight-year contract, you could come two or three years later and things could change. You can change your mind – but the club apparently can’t.

“That doesn’t make sense to me. So once you’ve signed for a certain length of time and for a certain amount, whatever that may be, the AFL needs to give clubs more control over player transfers.

“So it’s not just Christian Petracca saying I might want to go somewhere else even though I still have five years to play. A club should be able to say things have changed and we’re sending him there now. I just think there needs to be more balance.”

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Later in the day, Cornes was back behind the microphone on the SEN Sportsday show after reports of Bolton’s transfer inquiry emerged, and again attacked the players who wanted the best of both worlds when it came to contracts.

“Many contracted players really want the best of both worlds. They want a long-term contract and security, and clubs will do anything to satisfy them,” said Cornes.

“Shai has had all the success in the world in his young career, and when the going gets tough, he wants to get out and go home.

“There are probably family reasons, but he may also have had family circumstances in mind when he signed a long-term contract.

“He’s not the only player doing this and it’s becoming more and more common. Clubs have no power and normally if you say you want to leave, you’ll get out.

“Player agents who like to suggest long-term contracts to their players and now advise them against it must be critically questioned.”

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