'His body is not capable': Kane Cornes fears Jason Horne-Francis is not up to finals standard
After his comments earlier in the season questioning West Coast Eagles youngster Harley Reid's training standards, Kane Cornes has declared Port Adelaide's Jason Horne-Francis should be probed the same way.
It follows Horne-Francis cramping up with just two minutes left in the Power's semi-final clash against Hawthorn, being helped off the ground by trainers.
The 21-year-old didn't return to the match, which his side went on the win by just three points to lock in a preliminary final against Sydney.
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Cornes is fearful that the midfielder could be lacking at training, causing him to fall behind in crucial moments of big games.
It was in May when Cornes called on Reid, who left the field in the dying minutes of the Eagles' six-point loss to Essendon with a cramp, to improve on his training to ensure he could run out a game strongly.
Jason Horne-Francis of the Power is helped off after cramping in the semi-final against Hawthorn. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"If he wants to be the best, if he wants to be Nick Daicos, he's got to have his training standards to (that) level," Cornes said of Reid on Footy Classified at the time.
"I'm saying that was a concern for me, to see how out on his feet he was in a game that was nowhere near as high pressure, after a week off, with five minutes to go that he had to come off the ground."
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Cornes says he is now questioning Horne-Francis just as much as he did Reid.
"This is not one bit different. This is exactly the reason I said that," Cornes said on Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night.
A disappointed Reid post match. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"Two minutes to go, in a cutthroat final, he's not out there.
"No, he's not (fit enough). His body is not capable of playing to the level."
Horne-Francis played 87 per cent game time, which Cornes believes was a "season high" for the youngster.
"I said he's (Reid) got to work on his training standards, question himself whether he's done everything. Same question applies for Horne-Francis, as good as he's been.," he said.
Jason Horne-Francis and Ken Hinkley celebrate Port Adelaide's semi-final win. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"As much as he's my favourite player in the game, as much as he's a match-winner and a star, he wasn't out there for the last two minutes of the game and that could have cost them."
The Power snuck home to record the win, setting up an SCG meeting with the Swans on Friday night.
