KANE Cornes has called on Aaron Naughton to take the next step in 2024.<\/p>\n
Naughton finished the 2023 season with 44 goals from 23 games, less than his totals of 51 in 2022 and 47 in 2021.<\/p>\n
While Naughton has the reputation as one of the competition\u2019s best forwards, Cornes believes his performances don\u2019t stand up to that tag.<\/p>\n
Cornes listed several players who kicked more goals than the Bulldog in 2023 and put him in the gun this off-season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a bit of a fallout from the season and I’ve got your man and you’ve been big on this all year. Aaron Naughton is in the gun,\u201d Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think his reputation far exceeds his performance, Aaron Naughton.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are the players that have kicked more goals than Aaron Naughton this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlie Curnow, Taylor Walker, Nick Larkey, Toby Greene, Oscar Allen, Charlie Cameron, Jeremey Cameron, Joe Daniher, Kyle Langford, Tom Hawkins, Luke Breust and Brody Mihocek.<\/p>\n
\u201cJye Amiss kicked three less than Naughton, Ollie Henry kicked three less than him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBen King missed a lot of footy, but he kicked 40. Aaron Naughton kicked 44.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Charlie Curnow stands above all other key forwards at the moment with back-to-back Coleman Medals to his name, Cornes believes Naughton has the ability to match him in 2024.<\/p>\n
The former Port Adelaide star urged Naughton to kick 70 goals next campaign and meet the high expectations set for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Curnow kicks 78, Naughton has every bit the amount of ability that Curnow has or near enough to that athletically,\u201d Cornes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe [Curnow] nearly kicked double the number of goals compared to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAaron Naughton is in the gun. He needs to come out next year and target 70 goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cKicking 44 and taking one or two contested marks a game is not enough for a player with that much ability.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naughton has played 123 games for the Bulldogs since being taken with pick number nine in the 2017 Draft.<\/p>\n