Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes continues to express his displeasure with long-term contracts in the AFL, with Sean Darcy being the latest player to sign an extended deal. On Wednesday, the Fremantle Dockers announced that Darcy had committed to staying with the club for at least six more seasons in a significant contract extension.
Darcy was reportedly a target for several Victorian clubs, particularly Geelong, with his contract set to end next year. However, the 25-year-old decided to stay with the Dockers, resisting the temptation to return to his home state.
Despite missing out on the AFL finals, Darcy is focused on preparing for the 2024 season. “We just need to get stuck into it and I can’t wait for the season to start,” he said in the announcement.
“I have full belief in our team, our list, and what we’re building. We had a disappointing year last season, and we’re not shying away from it. Everyone agrees that we need to be better, improve quickly, and push each other to get the best out of ourselves. It’s really exciting.”
Following the deal, Kane Cornes criticized Fremantle for their decision, stating, “Huge investment for a back-up ruckman.” This comment came after Cornes had already expressed discontent with his own club, Port Adelaide, for signing Connor Rozee to a lengthy eight-year contract.
Rozee, who has taken over as captain of Port Adelaide, is now contracted until the end of 2032. His deal matches that of Western Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton, making them the longest-contracted players in the AFL. Despite his admiration for Rozee, Cornes remains strongly opposed to long-term contracts for players.
Cornes had spoken about this issue almost a month prior when he first heard reports of the contract extension. On SEN Radio in October, he remarked, “I think someone has got a voodoo doll with my face on it and they’re putting needles into it because there’s a big long-term contract about to be signed right under my nose. It will feature my first or second favorite player in the league, Connor Rozee, the next captain of Port Adelaide.”
While Cornes congratulated Rozee on his new contract, acknowledging it as a win for the player and his management, he maintained that such long-term deals rarely benefit the club. He had similarly criticized Naughton’s contract when it was signed.
Huge investment for a back-up ruckman https://t.co/dgG78Xhtt9
— Kane Cornes (@kanecornes) December 13, 2023
Sean Darcy eager for a comeback in 2024
Darcy’s previous season was cut short due to an ankle injury that required surgery. The 2021 Fremantle best and fairest winner is now prepared to return to training for the upcoming season.
“It’s going really well at the moment, I’ve had a good last couple of weeks,” Darcy said. “I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve got a really important next four weeks that’s going to set me up.”
