Kane Cornes is bullish about the damage Melbourne could do in 2021, if they add North Melbourne spearhead Ben Brown and Hawthorn wingman Isaac Smith to their side.
The Demons missed finals for the second straight season in 2020, but Cornes feels the addition of Brown gives them something they have been lacking since Jesse Hogan’s departure.
“I’ve been pretty hard on the Demons in the last couple of years and rightly so, I think we’ve all been disappointed by what they’ve achieved since that 2018 Preliminary Final, but what I’m hearing so far I really like personnel wise in the way they’re building this list,” Cornes told AFL Trade Radio.
“When you hear Ben Brown coming in, and I know there are some deficiencies in his game, but they need a goal kicking key forward and they haven’t had that the last two seasons.
“Their leading goal kickers have been small players, but if you look through their list and every line, Jake Lever’s finally fit and in form, as is Steven May, should’ve been All-Australian.
“In the ruck they’ve got Max Gawn supported by Luke Jackson who has a massive future, you’ve got Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw, Jack Viney and potentially Isaac Smith who they’ve made a three-year offer for. I really like that, a good character, still plenty of footy left in him and has that outside spread and penetration.
“The forward line is, I’m just looking at the forward line, it’s as good as most in the competition if Christian Petracca plays there for 60 per cent of his time, you’ve got (Kysaiah) Pickett, Ben Brown comes in, Sam Weideman is 23 and his form was good, Bayley Fritsch and Jake Melskham as those medium goal scorers, I just think they’re putting in good pieces of the puzzle to take the next step and potentially finish top four.
“The question will be whether they have a game plan that stacks up.”
Brown has been strongly linked to the Dees with his departure from North Melbourne appearing certain.