Kane Cornes says he’s humbled to continue his remarkable rise from the AFL scrapheap into a 14th season with a new one-year deal at Port Adelaide.
Cornes was cast aside by former coach Matthew Primus in 2011 but will extend his career into next season with the new contract.
“It is a bit of a bonus,” Cornes told reporters on Tuesday.
“I’m really thankful for the club giving me the opportunity. And if it ends next year, it ends next year – I’m totally fine with that.
“I will be thankful for the time I have had.”
The 30-year-old Cornes has played a club record 260 AFL games and is a four-time club champion.
But he was told by Primus two seasons ago that his future was limited and was dumped to the SANFL.
Cornes was still contracted for last season and dug in – winning another club champion award.
Cornes and ex-captain Dom Cassisi, who is contracted for next season, will play on as the only remaining players from Port’s 2004 premiership side.
“When I came to the club we used to win every week and played finals for five or six years in a row,” Cornes said.
“And then we went through a lean patch.
“Now it looks like we’re on the way back up.
“I have seen most things in footy now and I guess those experiences will help me pass on that knowledge and experience to the younger players.
“The responsibility is now back on me to maintain a high level of not only playing, but my work off the ground with the young players as well.”
Cornes credited Port’s first-year coach Hinkley with breathing new life into his career.
“We don’t have many older players in our group,” Hinkley said.
“And Kane has been fortunate to have played through a very successful period at this club. That is really important when you’re trying to bring that successful culture back into a group.”
Cornes, a renowned fitness fanatic who continues to shut-down some of the competition’s best players, won’t rule out playing beyond 2014.
“This year has gone well and it’s up to me to keep performing – and if I do that, then I guess there’s no reason why I can’t,” he said.
“If I’m playing well enough and the club wants me to go on, then possibly. But it’s way too far away to even think about.”