Former Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes has said that he "doesn't care" about the Rising Star Award, saying Power young gun Connor Rozee may not win it, but will "clearly" be the bigger star.
The debate between Rozee and the 2018 number one draft pick, Sam Walsh, has raged on this year, with many seeing Walsh as the favourite to take out the Rising Star Award.
Walsh is only one of seven Blues to play every game this season, and has averaged over 25 touches and three clearances per match.
However, Cornes does not see Walsh as damaging, and he sees Rozee, who averages under 15 touches, and has kicked 20 goals in 15 games, as the better player.
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“I’ve been accused by Carlton fans of being biased because of my favouritism towards Rozee, so I’ll say: Sam Walsh will win the Rising Star and deserves to win,” Cornes said on SEN.
“If you look at some of his numbers, he averages 25 disposals, pretty good balance of contested and uncontested footy, he’s not a bad tackler, has been a staple and has been rewarded with coaches votes by the AFL Coaches for the last three weeks in a row.
“We can put a stamp on him winning (the Rising Star).
“But what would you rather? Would you rather a player win the Rising Star or would you rather have the better player in the future?
“I certainly know what I’d rather. I couldn’t care less about the Rising Star. That is not an award that excites me.
“It’s good recognition for a young player who has had a great year but I want the better player."
However, Cornes seemed to contradict himself, having tweeted about the Rising Star throughout the years.
Kane Cornes, everybody pic.twitter.com/8BW819Wfvg
— Josh Barnstable (@JBarney1994) July 9, 2019
Cornes added that he didn't think it was a mistake for the Blues to take Walsh with pick one, but said that it was clear that Rozee would be better.
“I don’t think it was a mistake from Carlton to pick him number one,” he said.
“But hindsight is a wonderful thing.
“The better player out of these two is clearly going to be Connor Rozee. And that debate, I can’t see it. I can’t see who could watch these two kids play and think that Sam Walsh will be the better player.
“I don’t think (Walsh is) that damaging. Connor Rozee will be the better player.”
Rozee was one of five Port Adelaide re-signings yesterday, locking him away at the Power until 2021.
