Buddy Franklin s illustrious career is coming to the end because the AFL great s once-thundering left boot has deserted him due to injuries he can t shake off.
That s according to Port Adelaide Hall of Famer Kane Cornes, who highlighted two worrying incidents during the Swans narrow defeat to Melbourne on Saturday night at the MCG.
Franklin went goalless for the first time since 2018 and at times looked sluggish during his side s nine-point loss, with Cornes suggesting it may signal the beginning of the end for the Sydney and Hawthorn champion. Buddy Franklin (pictured) struggled in the Swans clash against Melbourne on Saturday at the MCG. It was the first time since 2018 that Franklin had been kept goalless
The star free agent who would be a perfect fit for Port Adelaide
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Kane Cornes sees Zach Merrett as a perfect free agency target for Port Adelaide.
Merrett is out of contract at the end of the season and has made the call to delay talks with the Bombers until later in the season.
Given the Power have a few ageing stars in Travis Boak and Robbie Gray, as well as the likes of Tom Rockliff and Hamish Hartlett in the twilight of their careers, Cornes believes his old club should attempt to make a splash for someone like Merrett.
Competitive for a decade : Kennett on Hawthorn s rebuild, Clarko s future and AFLW expansion
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2021-05-11T09:18+10:00
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has outlined the direction his club is taking across the next two years, saying members must prepare themselves for two seasons of hitting the draft hard.
Kane Cornes told
Footy Classified on Monday night that the Hawks were the furthest team in the AFL from a premiership as the club sits 17th on the ladder after eight rounds.
Kennett believes with crafty list management and strong development pathways, the Hawks will be competitive again in two years.
âWhat weâre doing this year is making sure (our young players) get to play a number of games,â the Hawks president told
Chalk and cheese : The Bontempelli versus Cripps debate is over
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2021-05-10T08:02+10:00
Few player versus player debates have been hotter in recent years than Marcus Bontempelli versus Patrick Cripps.
Both players were taken in the 2013 National Draft and both became star midfielders and captains very early in their careers.
Kane Cornes believes 2021 has definitively separated the two, with Bontempelli comfortably the better player.
The Bulldogs captain was the difference between the two sides on Sunday, gathering 32 disposals, winning 10 clearances and kicking a big goal. Cripps meanwhile finished with 15 disposals and was mostly unseen when the game was on the line.