Champion Data competition analysis boss Daniel Hoyne and Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes have disagreed over Connor Rozee’s stature in the game, following what has been a poor month for the Power skipper.
Rozee has been interrupted by hamstring and ankle concerns since Round 7, playing in two losses and a win since then as Port Adelaide surrendered its top four spot.
Looking beyond that, Hoyne suggested Rozee doesn’t belong in the same conversation as teammate Zak Butters.
“The eye lies sometimes… I think the eye lies when it comes to Connor Rozee,” Hoyne began.
“And I think for the last 18 months, we’ve automatically bracketed Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis and Rozee together. I’m just not sure whether or not he in that conversation at the moment.
“This isn’t just on a performance level for 2024, this is based off what he’s done throughout this career.
“He’s never been a top 70 rated player in the competition, he’s never been a top 20 midfielder since he’s gone into the midfield over the last three years, this year his impact from a ball use perspective is 162nd in the competition. We don’t associate that with Connor Rozee.
“I think the eye assumes that he’s this elite, creative, unbelievable ball user.”
Hoyne acknowledged that Rozee’s performance against Essendon on Friday night of Round 6 was immense and rated through the roof for Champion Data. That performance saw the dual All-Australian kick three goals from 36 disposals and lock away an important win for his side.
However, he questioned how many times Rozee has hit similar levels this season.
“You know my theory on this… that game was a Friday night game, everyone’s watching and it was unbelievable what he did,”
“That stays in your head. Do you miss the 4:40 Sunday game, do you miss the 1:10 Sunday game. Do you miss the 1:45 Saturday afternoon game? Because the reality is that was phenomenal, that was one of the highest-rating games of the year. Absolutely brilliant. But what else has there been?
“He’s been injured, I get that… but the last five games he’s played he’s been involved in 15 scores. To put that into context, some players that have been involved in 15 scores in their last five games, Caleb Windsor is a first-year kid, Lloyd Meek is a developing ruckman, Ollie Hollands is a young winger and Jordan Boyd is a half-back flanker.
“Butters, he is the man, clearly their best player. He is currently a top 20 players in the competition, has been a top 10 player more often than not.
“Horne-Francis, his ability to change games and change momentum is there, I think we can all appreciate what he does and the impact he has from a ball-winning perspective and currently at the moment is rated a lot higher than what Rozee is.
“He’s involved in 61 per cent of Port Adelaide’s centre bounces, the same ratio as Horne-Francis. I just don’t think that that balance is right for me with what he’s producing at the moment.”
“Hoyne added: “I’m not saying he’s a poor footballer, I’m just having the broader discussion, does he sit in the same discussion as Zak Butters?”
But Cornes wasn’t having that suggestion, pointing to Rozee’s accolades in justifying the 24-year-old’s position in the game.
“I’m not there with you,” Cornes responded.
“I’m not as scathing. He’s a dual All-Australian his last two seasons, he’s won a best and fairest, they have given him the captaincy for a reason and he did his hammy against the Saints, played the next week with that torn hammy… rolled his ankle against North and went forward in that win and on the weekend he was poor, his first game back since Round 12.
“I think the last five weeks is really harsh on him considering the lack of continuity. Having said that, I was incredibly disappointed with his performance on the weekend, regardless of the lack of preparation… gee I’d love him in my side.”
Rozee and the Power next take on the Brisbane Lions on Saturday afternoon where a loss would put their top eight spot in jeopardy.