Cordner played for
Melbourne University prior to joining the VFL, studying medicine when not on the football field. A
ruckman who was also used in defence, Cordner made his debut for Melbourne in the 1941 finals series, playing in their winning grand final in just his second appearance for the club. Rarely injured, he played 144 consecutive games between 1942 and 1950. In 1943, Cordner was named the inaugural winner of the
Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal. Although Melbourne had been awarding the club Best & Fairest since 1935, it had remained unnamed until coach
"Checker" Hughes dedicated the award to Truscott's memory after the Melbourne star and Air Force pilot perished in a training exercise earlier that year. Cordner also created history when he became the first
Melbourne Cricket Club member to win the
Brownlow Medal in 1946 and also the only amateur player to win the Medal. He also finished equal sixth in the 1947 Brownlow Medal count. He was club captain in 1948 and 1949, the former in a premiership season. He also captained
Victoria in interstate football in the same year. Cordner was also the first
Melbourne Cricket Club member to receive the Brownlow Medal. He retired from football after the 1950 season. ==Life after football==