Kane’s List: 10 players who NEED a big off-season

Kane Cornes has named the 10 players he believes need a massive off-season.

These are the players he likes but wants to see go to the next level by working as hard as possible.

“Who needs to get in the gym? Who needs a huge one? Who needs a bumper off-season?,” Cornes said on AFL Trade Radio.

“My eyes are on you in the off-season.”

See this list below:

10 - Sam De Koning (Geelong)

“What has happened to him? I remember voting on the Rising Star in his first year and thinking his magnet at centre half-back in match committee would be there for the next 15 years.

“He wants for nothing, he’s 200cm-plus, he can mark the footy. Has he been disrupted by them forcing him to play ruck? I don’t know.

“But I know there’s clubs coming for him. He should be in the prime of his career. Just 19 games this year and was overlooked at critical stages of the season.

“Get yourself sorted. Work out what your deficiencies are. Because time is running out for Sam De Koning to be the player we all thought he could be.”

9 - Murphy Reid (Fremantle)

“A bit controversial, but I’m going to put it on Murphy Reid. Two years, everything has been relatively easy for Murphy Reid.

“You've been one of our favourites, you're an all-Australian. Very easy to sit back and go, ‘How easy is this game? How easy is this? Second year, All- Australian, here we go’.

“But I think it was a wake-up call for him during the finals. Now, the issue, the groin, the padding, all of that. I thought he was better on Grand Final day. It wasn't great, but he was better.

“So, can he get fitter? Can he work on his speed? Can he identify some areas? Can he get cleaner? Can he spend more time inside mid? Can he work with Caleb Serong?

“These are all the questions that he should be asking himself, because you don't want to go into year three complacent thinking this game is easy and then be found out a little bit, which I think is what happened in the final series.”

8 - Mac Andrew (Gold Coast)

“Also controversial at eight, Mac Andrew finished third in Gold Coast best and fairest. I couldn't believe that. I didn't think he had a top three in the best and fairest worthy season, even though they weren't a great side.

“But I just think the sky's the limit for Mac Andrew. He can be whatever he wants to be. Compose himself, get himself in a mental frame of mind that can cope with adversity in games. If he gives away free kicks or 50s, he's got to be better in that space and just dominate.

“Come back and dominate. Put on some size and come back and make a statement so we say, ‘You know what, this time next year we're talking about Mac Andrew as a top 10 player in the league, and the best intercepting defender in the game’.

“Tom Stewart's getting a bit older. Harris Andrews is getting a bit older. There is the opportunity for him to be the guy as the best intercepting key defender in football. So I'm putting it on him.”

7 - Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)

“No contest Colby. Colby McKercher needs to get tougher, needs to work on his ground balls.

“Now, it's not going to be his go-to. He's not going to be George Wardlaw, but when there is a ball there to be won and there's people around he has to win it.

“So he's got to get stronger in his body, he’s got to not rely so much on the handball receives, the kick-ins, the get-it-backs, possess the footy in the back half.

“He needs to be able to go midfield like Errol Gulden. Gulden is the perfect model for McKercher. He can be that good, but he has to get tougher.”

“I think he's going to get there. And this time last year, I said he has the potential to be genuinely elite. Thought he took a step back this year, which was unfortunate.”

6 - Dan Curtin (Adelaide)

“What's Dan Curtin? What is he?

“He’s reasonably slow, which is my concern for him. There’s not many giant on-ballers like that. He's good in the air.

“Can he find enough of the footy? So 15 disposals as a genuine inside mid, not enough. He's got to be getting 27, 28.

“I’d love more than 13 disposals a game and four goals for the year.

“I’m not as big on Dan Curtin as what some others are and they need to work out what he is.”

5 - Riley Thilthorpe (Adelaide)

“All-Australian the previous year and finished second the best and fairest of a good side, but absolutely regressed this year.

“So he's timid and he does not dominate games like he should. Don't worry about having the big imposing beard and the long hair. Actually play like that.

“Use your power and your strength. Go and get some Josh Treacy vision and see Josh Treacy at his best. And that's what the Thilseeker needs to be.

“If you were hurt, get it right and come back and make a huge statement next year because Adelaide desperately needs you in the prime of your career to do that and be a dominant force.”

4 - Josh Weddle (Hawthorn)

“He a player who I think Hawthorn need to work out what his best position is. He looked the best to me when Tom Barrass was injured and he went back and that's where he looked to play his best.

“But he's played forward, he's played ruck, he's played back, he's played wing. His versatility is disruptive.

“If you need to prioritise him over James Sicily, do it. Because you've got 10 years with this guy and he's an athletic freak, so sort out where you want him to play. And if that means Sicily plays wing and Weddle plays back, do that. Or Sicily plays forward, I don't know.

“But they need to prioritise this guy and get the best out of him. Could have taken two of the biggest pack, goal square marks in a prelim final and been a hero for his team.

“He's an almost player at the moment, but I still think he's going to get there.”

3 - Sam Lalor (Richmond)

“Lalor is at three. I'm his biggest fan, he just needs to get fitter and get his body right.”

2 - Ethan Read (Gold Coast)

“Work out what his position is. Not dissimilar to Weddle. Needs a big one and they need to sort that out.”

1 - Jase Burgoyne (Port Adelaide)

“So my brother (Chad) says that when he was there he just didn't take the gym stuff seriously enough. He’s so slightly built that he has to get in the gym.

“I thought he finished the season strongly but if he wants to be a pure devastating mid who goes forward like Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, that's the comp. He's not going to be as good as Nasiah but he's got attributes to be as good.

“Get in the gym, get yourself fit and strong and have a huge pre-season.”