A week after the former Port Adelaide premiership winner was fined $1800 for his part in a melee, the 32-year-old will continue to throw his body around and not shy away from a contest when the Giants face the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval tomorrow.

Cornes made his presence felt in his first trip back to South Australia when he landed a hefty, but legal, bump on Adelaide Crows midfielder Patrick Dangerfield in last week's 46-point loss at AAMI Stadium.

Players rushed from everywhere to get involved, Cornes ending up on the bottom of the pile and having his jersey ripped to shreds.

''I won't be changing my game,'' Cornes said.

''That's the way I've always played and will continue to.

''You don't go out of your way to do anything like that or do anything stupid, but if it's there to be done you've got to do it.''

Eyebrows were raised when the Giants supplemented their youth policy with a handful of key players on the wrong side of 30.

Cornes, ruckman Dean Brogan and midfielders James MacDonald and Luke Power were recruited to add some size and experience to an otherwise fledging club, which isn't expected to be in the running for the finals for at least three years.

All four have already proved their worth. While they might have lost a yard of pace, their physical attacks at the contest have set the benchmark for their younger teammates to follow.

They haven't been afraid to push the envelope and earn the ire of the match review panel.

MacDonald received a two-week suspension for a hit on Sydney Swans' Luke Parker in the opening round which left the on-baller with a broken jaw, while Cornes is lighter in the hip pocket after his contest with Dangerfield.

''The older boys can provide a good example in that respect and attack the ball and go in hard,'' Cornes said.

''These young boys have a real crack anyway.

''That's the first thing I heard when I got here, how hard and tough they were and how hard they tackle. We stand up pretty well in that regard.''

Cornes has been used in a variety of roles in the opening month of the competition, starting in defence for the first three games before being moved up forward last week.

There he got a first-hand view of rugby league convert Israel Folau.

Cornes believes Folau has all the raw tools needed to become a dominant key forward in the competition. ''The game he played on the weekend against the Crows was his best game he's played so far,'' Cornes said.

''He's got all the attributes.

''Give him another year or two and who knows what he can do.''