Kane Cornes Defends Nick Daicos, Slams 'Premature' Comparison to St Kilda Star
Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes has launched a passionate defence of Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos, arguing he deserves far more respect after former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley suggested St Kilda's Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has gone past him. The debate ignited following Wanganeen-Milera's explosive performance in a pre-season match, but Cornes insists it is way too early to make such comparisons.
Wanganeen-Milera's Rise and Hinkley's Bold Claim
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, aged 23, has rapidly ascended to become one of the AFL's elite players. In 2025, he earned his first All-Australian selection and won St Kilda's best and fairest award. He started 2026 in electric fashion, racking up 28 disposals and kicking four goals in a pre-season win over Essendon. After his fourth goal, Hinkley, commentating for Fox Footy, declared: "this bloke is the most exciting thing in football at the moment." When asked if Wanganeen-Milera had surpassed Daicos, widely regarded as the competition's best player, Hinkley replied without hesitation: "Yeah, I think so, because of this. Four goals — I think that (scoreboard impact) is what he's gone past."
Cornes Fires Back, Demanding Respect for Daicos
Kane Cornes vehemently disagreed with Hinkley's assessment, stating the conversation is premature. On SEN radio, Cornes argued: "I think we cannot even have this conversation for 12 months. Let's put some respect on Nick Daicos." He highlighted Daicos's impressive resume, which includes:
- Three All-Australian selections
- A best and fairest award
- The coaches' champion player of the year award
- The rising star award
- A premiership medal
Cornes pointed out that both players are the same age and entering their fifth AFL season, but Daicos has faced consistent targeting from opponents, whereas Wanganeen-Milera has enjoyed more freedom on the field. "Nick's been doing this since day one with a couple of people hanging off him most weeks. The most targeted player in the league... Nasiah runs around with no one on him. I am absolutely amazed," Cornes said.
The Tagging Theory and Future Challenges
Cornes emphasised that Wanganeen-Milera has yet to cope with close tagging, a challenge Daicos has navigated for years. He explained: "I want to see how Nasiah copes with that, he hasn't ever been tagged yet... He's yet to have that. Nick has had that certainly for the last three years." Cornes added that key metrics show Daicos is the superior player and urged patience: "To think you would overreact after a pre-season game... But let's see him do it in September, let's see him do it on grand final day, let's see him do it when he's targeted by the opposition. These are all the things Nick has done. So we're miles away from even having that discussion."
Player Rankings and Upcoming Clash
In his own top 50 AFL players list, Cornes ranked Wanganeen-Milera at No. 10, while Daicos was placed at No. 2, behind Western Bulldogs key forward Sam Darcy. The debate will soon be tested on the field, as Wanganeen-Milera and Daicos are set to square off in Opening Round when St Kilda and Collingwood clash in a highly anticipated MCG blockbuster on Sunday night.
