Can Naughton match high expectations?

KANE Cornes has called on Aaron Naughton to take the next step in 2024.

Naughton finished the 2023 season with 44 goals from 23 games, less than his totals of 51 in 2022 and 47 in 2021.

While Naughton has the reputation as one of the competition’s best forwards, Cornes believes his performances don’t stand up to that tag.

Cornes listed several players who kicked more goals than the Bulldog in 2023 and put him in the gun this off-season.

“It’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,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“I think his reputation far exceeds his performance, Aaron Naughton.

“These are the players that have kicked more goals than Aaron Naughton this year.

“Charlie Curnow, Taylor Walker, Nick Larkey, Toby Greene, Oscar Allen, Charlie Cameron, Jeremey Cameron, Joe Daniher, Kyle Langford, Tom Hawkins, Luke Breust and Brody Mihocek.

“Jye Amiss kicked three less than Naughton, Ollie Henry kicked three less than him.

“Ben King missed a lot of footy, but he kicked 40. Aaron Naughton kicked 44.”

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.

The former Port Adelaide star urged Naughton to kick 70 goals next campaign and meet the high expectations set for him.

“If Curnow kicks 78, Naughton has every bit the amount of ability that Curnow has or near enough to that athletically,” Cornes said.

“He [Curnow] nearly kicked double the number of goals compared to him.

“Aaron Naughton is in the gun. He needs to come out next year and target 70 goals.

“Kicking 44 and taking one or two contested marks a game is not enough for a player with that much ability.”

Naughton has played 123 games for the Bulldogs since being taken with pick number nine in the 2017 Draft.

– LACHLAN GELEIT/ SEN