Cornes lifts the lid on brutal sacking by "good mate"

Chad Cornes has lifted the lid on his Port Adelaide sacking and how awkward things got between him and good mate Josh Carr.

Cornes was informed that his contract would not be renewed in the lead up to the club’s round 17 clash with the Lions last season.

It marked the first significant change at the club after it was confirmed Ken Hinkley would step aside as coach with Carr his replacement.

Cornes, a two-time All Australian and 239 game player with the Power and Giants, was part of Port’s premiership winning side in 2004 and spent more than two decades with the club.

Drafted in 1997, Cornes is now a member of the SEN family and co-host of The Run Home.

“No bad blood,” he said on his first show alongside Kym ‘Kymbo’ Dillon. “Honestly I felt it was coming for most of the year.

“I had a great relationship with Ken. Josh had every right to make change. It’s tough when you get sacked especially from a guy that used to be a really great mate, and to be honest I have not missed it one bit.

“I put myself in Carr’s position, really close mate, it’s a big call from him, a courageous call but I think it was the right one.”

Explaining how grateful he was that he was granted more time than most to make plans for his future, Cornes added: “I got told early in the preseason I would be safe going forward. Then you don’t hear anything until round 17 when Josh came in. He asked a few people in the office to leave.

“I’m thankful he told me at that stage of the year. It was one-on-one. It gave me notice and time to prepare for what was next. I was thankful for that because some coaches get told straight after the season.

“It was awkward for a few weeks afterwards. We didn’t speak much in the coaches box for a few weeks but time heals all wounds.

“We had a big hug after that Gold Coast win which was a special night,. We have chatted since and there’s no bad blood.”

The Run Home with Kymbo and Chad can be heard on SEN SA 1629am and SEN Mt Gambier 1629am Monday to Thursday from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, and Monday to Friday from 2.30pm to 4.30pm during the AFL season.