Port Adelaide disclosed that assistant coach Chad Cornes will not be on the club’s coaching staff for the 2026 AFL season. This news has shocked many people. This announcement marks the end of an era for the Port Adelaide Football Club, especially under the leadership of long-time coach Ken Hinkley. He had been with the club as a player and coach for more than 20 years. This blog looks at the reason Chad Cornes left, the huge impact he had on the club, and what will happen next with Josh Carr.
A Look at Chad Cornes’ Legacy
Chad Cornes is one of Port Adelaide’s most famous players and an important part of the club’s history. He began with the Power in 1997 when he was drafted and played 239 games until 2011. But Cornes didn’t cease his employment with Port Adelaide after that. After he retired from playing, he became a coach and stayed with the team until the end of the 2025 season.
Cornes was on the historic 2004 Premiership team, which made him a favourite among Port Adelaide fans. In 2023, he was inducted into the Port Adelaide Hall of Fame, which was a sign of how important he still is to the club’s history.
Moving to Coaching
Chad Cornes started coaching in 2015 when he came back to Port Adelaide as the coach of the reserves team. He quickly became an important part of the coaching staff, going from defensive coach in 2021 to forwards coach in 2022. His work has been very important in shaping the team’s forward structures and making the team as a whole better.
The club’s decision to let Cornes go at the end of the 2025 season shows that things are changing there, even though he was a good coach. Port Adelaide has selected this choice as part of its move to new leadership. Josh Carr will take over as head coach in 2026 when Ken Hinkley leaves.
The Club’s Statement – Why the Choice Was Made Early
Chris Davies, Port Adelaide’s General Manager of Football, talked about the club’s choice and said that they wanted to let Cornes know about their plans as soon as possible so he could think about his future career options. This early communication was meant to help Cornes understand things better so he could make the best choice for his future, since he had been with the club for a long time.
Davies called Cornes an “excellent servant” of the club in an official statement, acknowledging him for his contributions as both a player and a coach. He said that Cornes had been an important part of the club’s programme, especially in the coaching staff, since he came back in 2015.
The New Era – Josh Carr’s New Job
Port Adelaide’s plan to move into an exciting period under Josh Carr incorporated the choice to let Cornes go. Josh Carr, who played with Cornes on the premiership team in 2004, will become the senior coach in 2026 when Ken Hinkley, the present coach, leaves.
Carr’s arrival means that the club’s management will change, and it’s likely that the coaching staff will also change. Port Adelaide will have to fill at least two coaching vacancies because Cornes is leaving and Carr wants to use his own coaching style going forward. The club’s choice to keep Carr as head coach and change the coaching staff shows that they are serious about building a competitive team for the future.
People were shocked and supportive.
Fans, players, and former teammates all had different things to say about Cornes’ leaving. Dean Brogan, a former teammate of Cornes and an ABC commentator, said he was shocked by the decision but absorbed that it was going to happen because of how the industry works. Brogan said that Cornes had been a great servant to the club, but Josh Carr’s new leadership would need new ideas, which probably had something to do with the decision.
Even though it was shocking, Brogan said this could be a chance for Cornes to try new things in his career, especially since he has worked in the AFL for nearly three decades as a player and coach.
Port Adelaide’s Challenges and Broken bones
Port Adelaide is going through a tough time right now because of changes in leadership and a lot of injuries to important players. After getting hurt in a loss to Brisbane, Sam Powell-Pepper, Esava Ratugolea, and Dante Visentini were all managed out for the remainder of the season. The team had difficulties when Powell-Pepper underwent reconstruction surgery.
Port Adelaide has also had trouble with their performance, and Ken Hinkley, who is in his last season as head coach, has said that he is focused on helping the team finish strong, even though they have a lower chance of making the finals.
Hinkley is focusing on rotating players, which could mean bringing back Ollie Lord and Jeremy Finlayson, who have both played well in the SANFL. This shows that the club is still committed to looking at their roster and making sure they perform at their best as the season comes to an end.
Ken Hinkley’s Last Season
Ken Hinkley’s departure from Port Adelaide at the end of the 2025 season marks the end of a big chapter in the club’s history. Hinkley has been in charge since 2013 and has led the team to 172 wins in 290 games. Even though the team is facing troubles in 2025, Hinkley is still focused on closing his time with the team on a high note and is urging them to fight hard in the last few games.
The club is contemplating the future, and Josh Carr’s bringing in as head coach is expected to mark the start of a new era of leadership. Carr’s time as a player with the club and his knowledge of the Port Adelaide system will be very important for the team’s future.
Port Adelaide’s Plan for the Future
Port Adelaide is getting ready for the years to come, and the changes there, like Chad Cornes leaving and Josh Carr taking over as coach, are happening at the right time. Port Adelaide’s plan for the 2026 season and beyond will be to rebuild and make the team more competitive because there are open spots on the coaching staff and in other important leadership roles.
The Power endured a tough season in 2025, but they are still committed to developing their young players and making the team stronger for future success. As part of a long-term plan to get Port Adelaide back to the top of the AFL, Josh Carr is going to be in charge and there will be changes to the coaching staff.
In conclusion
Chad Cornes leaving Port Adelaide is the end of an era for the team. Cornes has left a lasting mark on the Power as a player and a coach. The club will be focusing on building a team that can compete at its highest level as Josh Carr takes over as leader. The club’s decision to let Cornes go was probably hard, but it shows that they are committed to moving forward and getting ready for future success. Port Adelaide fans will always remember Cornes as one of the best players in the club’s history, and his legacy will last for a long time.
