As a result of McRae’s statements about “players over picks,” Cornes has significant concerns about Collingwood.

Concern was expressed by Kane Cornes in response to remarks made by Collingwood coach Craig McRae over his approach to list-building practice.

When McRae was interviewed on SEN The Run Home, he stated that he is a coach who “wants to bring players in.” He also stated that “I don’t want picks, I want players,” and that he is particularly interested in potential players who can immediately improve the team’s performance.

This thinking was put into action by the club the previous year when they crafted a trade for Lachie Schultz that revolved around a future first-round pick. This year, the club is rumored to be in the lead for GWS free agency Harry Perryman, who may receive a long-term offer that is profitable from the Magpies.

He anticipates that Collingwood will follow the example set by Hawthorn after their premiership successes in the early to middle of the 2010s. Hawthorn brought in players such as Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara in an effort to keep their flag window open. If Collingwood continues to prioritize established players over draft picks, he believes that the club will follow the aforementioned path.

According to Cornes, this might potentially be detrimental to the Magpies in the long run.

According to Cornes, who was speaking to The Early Trade on AFL Trade Radio, “We’ve seen this movie before.”

When Alastair Clarkson performed at Hawthorn after he had achieved so much success, we witnessed this phenomenon.

In his time at Hawthorn, Alastair Clarkson made a statement that is extremely, extremely similar to this one. I will rephrase it here, but in essence, he says, “You can’t rely on the draft because of the compromised nature of it.”

What exactly do they do, then? Over the course of approximately three years in a row, they had traded all of their draft picks, and Ryan Burton was the only first-round draft pick that they had on their list during that time.

“You are aware of the names that participated in that football club, such as (Tom) Mitchell, (Jaeger) O’Meara, and other like individuals. It is a step in the wrong direction.”

It has been reported that the Pies are considering making an offer to Perryman that is approximately $850,000 per year for a total of seven seasons. Cornes has referred to this contract as being ludicrous.

“If you have a draft as strong as this and Collingwood has picks 33, 48, and 51, then they have already traded this year’s first for Lachie Schultz,” said Cornes. “This is a very strong draft.”

Taking into consideration the number of people above the age of 30 that are on their list, they are going to pay Harry Perryman as if he were James Hird.

It is absolutely absurd to pay such a large sum of money to a player who does not truly merit it. I am aware that you are able to get him at no cost, and I am aware of that fact; yet, you are going to spend a significant portion of your salary cap on that guy, and you are going to neglect the draft.

There is a cause for concern when someone says, “I don’t want picks.”

Given that the 2024 Australian Football League Draft is expected to be loaded with talented players, Cornes believes that the club ought to bring McRae into line and continue hitting the draft rather than always prioritizing players who have already established themselves in the league.

In three years, he is concerned that the Magpies would find themselves in a difficult situation if they do not take action.

Who is currently in the driver’s seat? According to Cornes, people who are close to Craig McRae are the ones who need to demonstrate a great deal of strength in their interactions with him and tell him, “Hold on, it’s not about you and this year; it’s about setting up our club for the next five-seven years.”

I am not merely referring to Harry Perryman; rather, I am referring to the frightening nature of the comments that were made by Craig McRae.

It is also true that Port Adelaide does not have any picks, but they are going to find a way to acquire some picks because they are astute enough to say, “This draft is absolutely stacked, we have to get into it.” We are going to get into it if it means that we have to give up a decent player in exchange for it.

In the event that he continues to proceed in this manner, I am concerned about the appearance of the Collingwood Football Club in the next three years.

According to the statement, “It will be very, very similar to the way it ended for Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn, where they have to completely gut the joint and start all over again because one coach was so influential on the list management group and traded away everything.”