Cornes succumbs to injury
21/07/2008 4:11 PM
Port Adelaide's Chad Cornes has finally succumbed to knee and shoulder injuries and will sit out the rest of season.
Cornes has been playing under duress during the second half of the year and decided to make Showdown XXV his farewell game for 2008.
The 28-year-old will have an arthroscope on both injuries on Thursday. He'll have his arm in a sling for six weeks.
During his time off the two-time All Australian will also have a pin removed from a broken finger.
Coach Mark Williams said he wanted to rest Cornes earlier in the season but allowed him to play on.
"He certainly said 'Look I reckon I've got one more game in us'," Williams said.
"For weeks we've been battling whether we are going to pick him or not and he keeps wanting to put up his hand."
"Such is the quality of the guy and the leadership of him, he wants to play and he wants to make a difference."
"But his body didn't allow him to do anything near what he's capable of doing. You can see how many times he's fumbled the ball of late."
"I can't wait for him to get back to what we all know."
It's hoped the timing of Cornes' surgery will allow him to complete a full pre-season in 2009.