Why Cornes doesn’t think Dunkley is right for Port despite reported interest

Port Adelaide is reportedly interested in luring Josh Dunkley to Alberton, but would he be a good fit?

AFL Media recently reported the Power are showing strong interest in Dunkley, with the star Dog out of contract at the end of the season.

He signed a three-year deal back in 2019, but only a year later requested a trade to Essendon. But when that fell though, he returned to the Dogs and indicated no further desire to leave.

Dunkley averages 25.3 disposals, 4.2 clearances and just shy of a goal a game in 2022 as one of the game’s best goalkicking midfielders, but Power Hall of Famer Kane Cornes doesn’t believe he’s the right target for the club.

“I don’t think he is,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast when discussing if Dunkley is the right fit for Port.

“I’m going to put that on the radar, I think what they need is some class and some polish with their ball use.

“(Ollie) Wines is dour, (Travis) Boak is reasonably dour now, Willem Drew is a dour midfielder, I’m not sure they need another bigger body dour midfielder who is a poor ball user, but albeit has got the ability to go forward an impact front of centre.”

Cornes has previously said the Power are two midfielders short and should have addressed this area of the ground in the 2021 trade period.

David King acknowledged Cornes’ sentiment but suggested Dunkley would be worth a trade, for the right price.

“He stacks up on all the Champion Data statistics,” the dual-premiership Kangaroo said.

“No matter what you think of the player, good players help you. He’s a good player, if you can get him and there’s no real cost to him, then you go and get him is the simple answer.

“The Dogs have got too many of that type of player, so they can afford to get rid of that surplus need and potentially get something back, maybe not.

“We wait and see.”

The Dogs reportedly demanded two first-round picks from Essendon when in trade negotiations for Dunkley.

The club is also up against the ropes to keep Jason Johannisen at Whitten Oval. The 29-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has put off contract talks with the Bulldogs, 7 News reported last week.