“He’s been slandered”: Cornes labels Rozee a top-25 player amid harsh criticism

Kane Cornes has again leapt to the defence of Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee.

The Power great has described criticism directed at Rozee as “slander”, backing the 24-year-old’s performance with some key information.

It comes after Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne and by extension David King on Fox Footy questioned Rozee’s output across the last four years.

DANIEL HOYNE AND KANE CORNES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD ON THE PERFORMANCE AND STATURE OF CONNOR ROZEE

Cornes says the proof is in the pudding in regards to Rozee’s accolades.

“I wanted to have a crack at you (King) about your slander,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“You and ‘Hoyney’, your slander of the Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee after an interrupted season with injury. You and Hoyney went on to say there is four years of data to back this up.

“You know what the data is? Seventh in the coaches votes in 2023. He was fifth in 2022. We judge the coaches and their taste of who has had an influence on the game.”

Cornes also took aim at King’s love for Adelaide’s Izak Rankine, indicating that Rozee has had a bigger impact than the talented Crow.

“When you compare him (Rozee) to your mate, the one you’ve anointed as the next Gary Ablett Jnr - Izak Rankine - his record in the last four years is much stronger than Rankine’s,” Cornes continued.

“I think he’s been slandered. You’ve said there’s four years of data to suggest that Rozee isn’t there.

“I’ve countered that with the record that he’s got in the coaches votes, he won the best and fairest in 2022, was second in 2023, he’s a dual All-Australian.

“So stick your four years of data up your jumper, stick it where it fits, is what I’m suggesting.”

If all players were against a wall and he were building a team, where would Cornes pick Rozee?

“I think he’d be in the top 25 players,” he said firmly.

“He’d be between 20 and 25. That’s a top-liner, that’s an A-grader.”

Rozee will lead the seventh-placed Power into action against the Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval on Saturday as they strive to bounce back from two straight losses.