"Absolute disgrace": Cornes calls for significant reaction over rumoured Marshall trade

Kane Cornes has called for significant reaction if the AFL doesn’t veto the Western Bulldogs’ rumoured trade offer for Todd Marshall.

As reported by SEN’s Tom Morris, the Bulldogs view Port Adelaide’s tall as a potential circuit breaker in the desired trade for wantaway superstar Zak Butters.

With Port Adelaide seeking three first-round picks in exchange for Butters, the Dogs are willing to offer Pick 12 in this year’s National Draft alongside a 2027 first-round pick in exchange for Marshall as a deal separate from any Butters offer.

This would allow the three-time All-Australian to walk to the Dogs via the Rookie Draft – crediting the Power with Pick 5 as compensation.

The initial deal isn’t one that reflects great value on its own merit – 27-year-old Marshall missed the entire 2025 season with injury and averaged just 10 disposals and less than a goal per game in 2026.

And as AFL footy boss Greg Swann clarified on Wednesday night, each trade must stand on its own feet in order to go through.

“It (a memo) goes out every year... here’s the rules, follow the rules and then everybody’s okay,” Swann told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“You’d have to look at it, but on the surface, it would have to stand on its own feet.

“But there’s other permutations to it. If the debate is around they (Port Adelaide) pay some money as well (salary), you can’t do that if there’s a compensation pick paid.

“If he’s going to the Bulldogs, you need to pay X amount of money to get to the band to get first-round compensation.

“Then, at the next level you get a player back, where the club has got the compensation pays (their) money… you’re manipulating the band.

“You can’t do that. In this instance, there’s been debate about us getting out of the way, but because there’s a compensation pick involved... Zak would have got to that band anyway, so there’s no shenanigans.

“The next piece around it will be, how much money are they paying.

“People are talking about two first-round picks (for Marshall). Again, we haven’t seen it, and it is only speculation.

“But, speaking to people today that Marshall hasn’t even said he’s going to go at the moment.

“In this instance, let’s just see what happens. There might be other things involved, there might be other picks and players involved.

“We are speculating a little bit, but in the main it’s got to be pretty close — or some semblance of close.”

Cornes doubled down on the notion that the competition cannot allow the Marshall deal to go through.

“If the Western Bulldogs can pay the biggest contract ever and only give up Pick 12 and a future first, which is going to be right down the back if we think the Bulldogs are going to finish where they should, that is ridiculous,” Cornes told SEN’s Locked In.

“That is not fair, and the AFL should have stepped in right now to quash that deal for Todd Marshall.

“(It’s unfair on) the other clubs. The free agency pick then sends everyone else back. If you want to trade for Zak Butters, it is one trade. It’s not two trades, it’s one.

“If you want to accept the free agency, good luck to you Port. That’s it. You get your Pick 5 and that is it, move on.

“If you want to trade for Zak Butters and match the deal, then it is one single transaction. Not two, not separate, not two first-round picks for a player who is playing SANFL.

“We cannot accept this as an industry under the current rules. How can it go through?

“It’s not the system. The AFL have said that every deal need to stand up. Just because they’re going to pay some of his wage… it’s still not fair!

“It’s an absolute disgrace. If you give up two first-round picks for Todd Marshall, who would be a delisted free agent…

“Port have got that much cash in their salary cap, they can afford to keep Todd Marshall, no worries. Who are they paying?

“It’s not like Gold Coast, who had to trade Jack Bowes because of their salary cap. It’s not like Collingwood, who had to trade Adam Treloar and Brodie Grundy because they just couldn’t exist if they (kept them).

“Port Adelaide has got that much cash… there is no need for them to get Todd Marshall off their books.

“As an audience, we cannot accept this. There needs to be the biggest reaction, and I’m willing to go overreaction, if the AFL let this go through.

“It cannot be accepted.”

Listen to the full debate with Kane Cornes and Sam Edmund: