IN 2005, midfielder Kane Cornes stood onstage at Port Adelaide’s best and fairest awards night as a slightly self-absorbed 22-year-old, disappointed at coming runner- up in the club’s highest individual honour – the John Cahill Medal – for the second straight year.

On Saturday night, three years later, a “more relaxed” and team-orientated Cornes accepted his second consecutive John Cahill Medal.

Cornes polled in 20 of the 22 games to end up 20 votes clear of teammate Dom Cassisi, after finishing third in the league for disposals and maintaining his mantle as one of the game’s premier taggers.

But coach Mark Williams identified a gradual off-field change in the consistent premiership player as the biggest positive.

“Anyone who has been at our best and fairest awards over the past few years would know that Kane had been a little upset in not winning this award [until last year] ,” Williams said.

“He’s so focused on where he wants to be in football and he doesn’t accept second best, off or on the track.

“Kane is now an outstanding leader at our club. He’s gone from a person who worried about himself and his own stats to a person that’s started worrying about the club.

“In our last few meetings over the past few weeks he’s showed that he wants to stand up and he wants to make a difference.”

The meticulous preparer and gifted athlete has been rewarded for his improved leadership and team orientation, ironically with greater individual honours, including an All-Australian crown and his first John Cahill Medal in 2007.

“It’s funny, isn’t it?” Cornes said.

“I think it’s just nice to be able to have the respect of your teammates, for not only the way you play individually, but the care you give for the team, especially guys that are playing in the SANFL and are doing it a bit tough.

“Any bit of love and support you can give them builds for a nice environment around the footy club.”

Cornes has made a conscious effort over the past 24 months to leave his football at the door when he arrives home to wife Lucy and sons Eddy Jack and Raphael.

But he conceded it was something easier said than done.

“[Assistant coach] Jason Cripps needs a huge mention,” Cornes said. “And to his wife, Penny, for all the text messages I’ve sent Crippa late at night after a game- I apologise.

“Actually, Matty Primus and his wife Melissa are probably in the same boat there, too, so thank you.”

Cornes credited his family with giving him what he described as a greater balance in his life.

“To win awards like this is great personally, but it’s also great for members of your family and immediate family because they’re so proud when things like this happen.

“I’m very proud to be a footballer, but I’m most proud of being a dad. Eddy has actually been sick the past couple of days and it’s actually his birthday today, so it’s nice to win this on his birthday.”

Cornes described winning the best and fairest in a tough year for the club as an ‘empty feeling’ and said watching the first weekend of finals already had him thinking about 2009 – just three days into his post-season break.

“I’ve had a couple of runs already – I can’t tend to help myself there,” he said.

“The fitness coaches have urged me to have two weeks off the legs, so I’ll try and do that the best I can and then start cranking things up for pre-season.”