The delisted forward Kane Cornes thinks is “worthy of a second opportunity”

Kane Cornes was surprised by Richmond’s decision to delist Noah Cumberland on Wednesday.

While the 23-year-old only played seven games in 2024, Cornes thinks that the forward has traits that some others don’t at the top level.

Across his 25 career games, Cumberland kicked 33 goals, with his best return of 19 majors from nine games coming in 2022.

While Cornes conceded that Cumberland was prone to brain fades during his time in the yellow and black, he thinks that he’s worthy of a second opportunity at another AFL club given his kicking ability and goal sense.

“He's the one (I was surprised by),” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“There's been a few players across the journey that you look at and you go, ‘Why haven't they made it? Why don't they get a regular game? Why does the coach not pick them?’, he’s certainly one of those for me.

“I understand it's a hard role to play, but in terms of what you need to play that role (he has it).

“He’s a beautiful kick, he knows where the goals are, and yes, he has a number of brain fades which I thought he probably would have grown out of as he got more experienced at the level.

“But I think he's worthy of a second opportunity.”

Cornes also believes that there’s not a huge amount of quality small forwards currently playing AFL, pointing to Port Adelaide’s decision to cut Quinton Narkle and Francis Evans after both played in the club’s Preliminary Final loss to Sydney.

As a result, Cornes sees a club offering Cumberland an opportunity for 2025.

“Honestly, look at the players at Port Adelaide played in their forward line in the finals series,” Cornes said.

“A few of them have been delisted like Narkle and Evans, those two were actually playing in Prelim Finals, it’s incredible.

“But at his age, you would think someone's going to have another go at him.”

Richmond also delisted fellow forward Matthew Coulthard, who made six senior appearances.