Former Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes has declared Jordan Roughead the best recruit of 2019.

Roughead moved across from the Bulldogs to the Pies in the trade period and has become one of the side’s most reliable players, taking the best key forward every week and rarely getting beaten.

Ahead of even Brisbane’s Lachie Neale, Cornes feels Roughead has been the best recruit of the season for a number of reasons.

“I wasn’t sure about this guy when he came across from the Bulldogs, he’s played ruck, he’s played forward, he played back, never really established himself a position despite playing in a premiership,” Cornes told SEN’s Crunch Time.

“He has kept arguably the most powerful and dynamic key forward in the game Josh Kennedy to zero goals. Kennedy had seven ranking points. This is because of Roughead.

“A lot of people would say Cornes is kidding himself, Lachie Neale is the recruit of the year.

“Neale has been amazing. They’ve given up picks six and 19 to get him in one of the strongest drafts in 15 years.

“The price Collingwood paid for Roughead, it was pick 75. The Bulldogs have effectively given away Roughead for next to nothing.

“My point is what it cost Brisbane in terms of not only his salary and the picks they gave up, I just think for value and output, Roughead, he’s probably on the minimum footy wage, it’s hard to go passed Roughead.

“Collingwood has turned him into probably equal with Daniel Talia as one of the best shutdown defenders in the competition.

“I reckon he’d be top three in their best and fairest this year.”