DEAN Brogan has implored his good mate and fellow Greater Western Sydney veteran Chad Cornes to extend his playing career to a 15th AFL season next year.
Following 239 games with Port Adelaide, Cornes announced a "mutual decision" for him to retire after the round 20 match against Collingwood last season, but there were some that felt he still had plenty left in the tank.
WATCH CORNES LOSE HIS JUMPER AGAINST ADELAIDE:
On Sunday, he will play his 250th game when the Giants take on Hawthorn at the MCG.
He has impressed in 2012 and Brogan, who spent 11 seasons alongside Cornes at the Power, is adamant he should continue playing in 2013.
"The boys love playing with Chad and there's no reason why he couldn't run around again next year," Brogan told AFL.com.au.
"I really hope he does. Full credit to him because a lot of people said he was finished last year.
"But he went away and got his body right and a change of scenery has probably been good for him.
"Sometimes getting away and starting again you get a new lease of life and I think that's what he's done."
Cornes has been a rock in defence for the young Giants, playing 10 of a possible 13 games and returning almost 21 possessions and seven marks per contest.
But, while he has been an unmitigated success, Brogan admits at first he wasn't sure how Cornes would mesh with the incredibly young GWS list.
Best mates now, the ruckman revealed he barely spoke to Cornes in their first few years together on the Port list.
Brogan described Cornes as an "old school footballer" and said he had to prove himself and "earn his stripes" before he was allowed into the dual All Australian's inner sanctum.
Yet he has been proven wrong.
"He's even surprised me. I wondered a little bit how Chad was going to be dealing with young guys and all that, but he's been absolutely fantastic," Brogan said.
"The biggest thing the young guys are getting from Chad is just how hard he works off the field.
"Because of his age he can't do that much on the track, but he's always doing cross training and extra weights and all his rehab and really looks after himself.
"Guys like Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton are really looking up to him and saying 'I want to play 250 games, be an All Australian and win a premiership'.
"It's been great."
Apart from his stellar play, one of Cornes' more notorious moments this season came against his old nemesis Adelaide in round four.
Cornes was left shirt-less after a scuffle broke out at AAMI Stadium and continued playing for a few minutes before coming from the ground.
"I said to him after the game 'you should retire now. You have completed everything you wanted in footy'," Brogan said.
"Crows fans love him of course, not, so him running around with his shirt off playing the Crows, I said 'that's your dream done'."
James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au.
