No. 1 player?: Why Cornes has Darcy in the gun

Kane Cornes has Sam Darcy firmly in the gun ahead of the Western Bulldogs’ Gather Round clash against Hawthorn on Saturday night.

So far in 2026, Darcy has kicked a strong 10 goals, although he hasn’t reached the heights of 2025, which prompted Cornes to name him as his No. 1 player in the AFL heading into this season.

Even if Darcy is going ok from his four games so far, Cornes wants to see the 22-year-old dominate against the Hawks and likely opponent Tom Barrass, who is in early All-Australian form himself.

“My man, Sam Darcy, is firmly in the gun,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“He’s going ok. He's not going terribly, but he's not playing to the level that I certainly believe that he's capable of playing to.

“Once again, playing good opposition on the prime-time stage, Tom Barrass is probably waiting for him.

“Have a dominant performance for Gather Round, Sam Darcy. I think he's due, I've got a good feeling about it.

“The umpires are starting to notice that the opposition are chopping his arms, holding him and giving free kicks away. I think he's going to have a big night.”

After Cornes put the heat on the Bulldog, his SEN Breakfast co-host David King questioned his position at No. 1 on Kane’s top 50 coming into the season, given he’d played just 45 games before 2026, kicking 89 goals in that period.

King: “Where would he be at the moment if you had to do your top 50 again?

“I like revisiting your top 50. You had him number 1, you went early, and now you're angry, aren't you? You're a little bit angry.”

Cornes: “It's not a rolling top 50.”

King: “Do you feel like he's let you down?”

Cornes: “It's early, and he's not going terribly. I think he can play better.”

King: “Mike Sheahan never made these mistakes with his top 50. Do you feel you've dropped the ball with your 50?”

Cornes: “No, I haven't. I spent a lot of time on it, and I’m actually pretty comfortable with it.

“I think by the end of the year I'll be very justified in that placement.”