Port Adelaide veteran Chad Cornes says his confidence has been sapped by uncertainty over his AFL future.

The 31-year-old entered this season with Port in a rebuilding phase and new coach Matthew Primus plumping for youth.

Cornes on Saturday played his first game since Primus took over last July, the dual All Australian defender recast as a forward.

Cornes said the comeback felt like a first game, but conceded his confidence levels were a far cry from previous seasons.

"I have definitely gone back into my shell a bit, not knowing my spot in the team, not being guaranteed a spot," he said on Tuesday.

"I definitely went back into my shell this pre-season, I haven't been as outspoken as what I would have in the past.

"That is something I want to get back, hopefully playing more games to get a bit more confidence - I want to get back to what it used to be ... being that on field leader the team needs.

"There's not too many guys over the age of 25 so you definitely need those experienced heads leading the way, saying the right things, and doing the right things out on the field."

Cornes kicked two goals in Port's home loss to West Coast after replacing injured spearhead Jay Schulz.

"I don't think our ball movement was very good, we played some pretty boring footy, didn't take too many risks and our skill level wasn't great either," Cornes said of the loss to the Eagles.

"So as a forward it wasn't the easiest game to play."

The 231-gamer also criticised the AFL's new substitution rule.

"I just can't see any benefit in it at all, it's ridiculous," he said.

"So it's there now, we just have to try and deal with it.

"I don't think there was any problem with the way it was, maybe a cap on the number of interchange would have been a bit smarter, I would have thought."

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