Kane Cornes believes Adelaide must go “all-out” in pursuit of wantaway Sydney defender Jordan Dawson.
The 24-year-old has officially requested a trade back home to South Australia, with both clubs keen to win his signature.
Cornes feels the Crows need him more positionally than Port Adelaide.
“Adelaide needs him more. He’s not exactly the perfect player to suit a need for Port Adelaide, but he’s class,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast.
“I’m interested in the Crows fans on this one because he’s Brodie Smith with a left foot basically.
“That’s how I see him, but I’d love to see him play more up the ground and towards the end of the year he played more wing and more centre-forward.
“His delivery inside 50 is as good as any in the competition. That is what Adelaide needs and if I’m the Crows, I’m going super hard for him.
“He’s 24, perfectly suited, comes in with experience and plays a role and fills a role that they absolutely need.”
While Adelaide would benefit from Dawson’s services more, Cornes still hopes the Power do their best to land him.
“I think the Crows need him much more than Port Adelaide, but you would be silly if you were Port Adelaide and you didn’t go after him, which they will do,” Cornes added.
“Does it come down to whether he wants to join a group that’s more experienced and ready to play finals … or is he prepared to sit back for two, three, four years and play significant footy and be a leader of that group before they are ready.
“It sounds as though he’s Port Adelaide bound, but if I’m the Crows I’m going all-out for him because he’s absolutely what they need and for Port he doesn’t fill that inside mid role they’re so desperate to solve, particularly after they were exposed by the Western Bulldogs.”