Do list managers watch games? Cornes can’t understand Bergman offer

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes can’t understand why Jason Cripps isn’t under more scrutiny as the Power’s list manager.

Cripps has served as the club’s list boss since 2011, two years before Ken Hinkley took over as coach. While Hinkley finished up as coach at the end of 2025, Cripps survived in his role, which is something Cornes can’t understand.

Cornes thinks more scrutiny should be placed firmly on Cripps’ shoulders, particularly after Zak Butters’ departure, while also slamming recent reports that Miles Bergman has been offered a long-term deal before entering free agency at the end of 2027. He discussed the situation with Tom Morris on SEN’s Locked In.

Cornes: “Why is it just on the coach? Like if your list manager's been there for longer than the coach, and you're a bottom four team…

“You haven't won a premiership, and you've been all in, and you've had a crack at winning it, and no criticism, well done. You tried to seize the opportunity in the window you had.

“So, you traded all your picks, and you neglected the draft, and you're the only team that didn't take a draft pick last year, now you have to significantly rebuild, and you lose Butters because you can't paint a rosy picture of where the future of the club is...

“Why are you still there?”

Morris: “So, you're talking about Port Adelaide here or generally?”

Cornes: “I'm talking about Jason Cripps. Why is there no scrutiny?

“Then I read today that they've offered Miles Bergman a long-term deal.”

Morris: “Do we know how many years that is? Xander McGuire reported that.”

Cornes: “Two years is too many for Miles Bergman.”

Morris: “That's so harsh.”

Cornes: “No, it's not. They don't watch them play. Like Miles Bergman doesn't finish top 10 in Port Adelaide's best and fairest - a team that finished 15th. Now I'm telling you that's pretty hard to do.

“Ollie Wines finished top 10, so did Darcy Byrne-Jones and Joe Richards, these types of players.

“Look at West Coast’s top 10 in the best and fairest. Milan Murdock finished in the top five… Port Adelaide's not far behind, other than the two at the top (Jason Horne-Francis and Butters).

“Bergman, I know he only played 16 games, but Butters played 16 and a quarter. So, don't give me that.

“Are they watching their players play? Now Bergman earns a million-plus, and he didn't finish top 10 in Port Adelaide's best and fairest, who finished 15th.

“You know what they say? They say we're going to reward you, with, I'm sure, a long-term contract extension, when you've still got one more year left at a million.

“Why is there no scrutiny on Port Adelaide's list manager? I don't understand.”