He was selected with the Brisbane Lions' fourth selection (pick 57 overall) in the 2008 National Draft.[1]
Cornelius was given the number 44 jumper, previously worn by Brisbane Bears and Brisbane Lions champion Nigel Lappin.[2]
Cornelius was delisted by Brisbane at the end of the 2013 season. He then returned to Tasmania where he was announced as the playing-coach of the Glenorchy Football Club in the Tasmanian State League for the 2014 season.[3]
In 2014, during a game against Clarence at Bellerive Oval, Cornelius suffered an horrific injury during a marking contest where he dislocated his knee and severed blood vessels in his leg which led to fears he would lose the limb.
Cornelius coached the Glenorchy Magpies to a Grand Final win in 2016 after finishing runners up the previous two years.