“I don’t get it”: Cornes puzzled by Carlton’s decision to extend Cerra long-term

Kane Cornes wonders why Carlton signed Adam Cerra on a five-year extension.

The Blues have locked the midfielder away until 2030, but Cornes is failing to see why he has been rewarded with such a long-term deal.

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Cerra, 25, has a recent history of soft tissue injuries and played just 13 games in 2024 which suggests to Cornes that there was no need for the Blues to commit.

“I don’t get it and if anyone can shed some light on why Carlton needed to do this deal I’d be really happy to listen,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“He’s suffered five hamstring injuries in 12 months. He’s had calf injuries before and it’s been a real ongoing issue for him.

“They need midfield depth but they had to move him out of the midfield (last season) because they just couldn’t get him sound.

“Injuries, particular soft tissue injuries, don’t get better as you age. It’s very rare that you have improvement with soft tissue injuries as you get older and closer to your 30s.”

Cornes also questioned whether or not Cerra has deserved the extension through form.

The former Fremantle on-baller finished fourth in Carlton’s best and fairest in 2023, however, his contributions outside of that may not have justified the deal.

Cornes asked: “Has he earned this contract on performance?

“The 2023 season when he was leading the best and fairest and ended up finishing fourth from 22 games, that’s his best season after being drafted with Pick 5 in 2017.

“He finished third in Freo’s best and fairest in 2020 (when they finished 12th).

“He’s had 16 career Brownlow votes, two in the last two seasons. Pick 45 in that same draft was James Worpel who has had 29 Brownlow votes - 23 more than Cerra.

“He’s never kicked more than 10 goals int a season, the best midfielders are those who are pushing forward and doing damage in the front half.

“He’s played under 20 games in four out of his last five seasons. It’s just a bizarre contract.”

Given Cerra was still contracted for 2025, it has puzzled Cornes that the Blues have jumped now ahead of a massive season for the club.

The Port Adelaide great says he would have waited to see how 2025 panned out before putting the offer in front of Cerra.

“I would expect he’s taken a significant pay cut. I would think that’s the only way Carlton could have done this deal,” Cornes said further.

“This is the way you should have played it if you’re Carlton - you just wait.

“Cerra can’t be traded right now, there’s no mid-season trade period. I think it’s unlikely he’d want to go to a third club.

“So you just wait until Round 15 or 16, see how the gets through the year, see how the Blues’ season plays out, they might need a complete reset if it doesn’t work this year and go back to the draft.

“Is Adam Cerra expendable? Can we trade him out? Can we get a late first-round pick for him?

“You don’t sign him for five years now when he’s had five hamstring injuries in the last 12 months, and his performance isn’t good.

“A bizarre one for me.”

Cerra averaged 19.4 disposals, 3.6 tackles, 3 clearances and 2.9 inside 50s across 13 games in 2024.

He has played 129 AFL matches, 53 of which have been in the navy blue since crossing from the Dockers prior to the 2022 campaign.