Live: Clarkson hits out at Cornes after changeroom ban as Roos tackle Dons

North’s million-dollar man, Luke Davies-Uniacke is having a bit of a nightmare here.

He has a handball intercepted by Essendon skipper Zach Merrett, and the Dons string together a lovely chain of handballs which ends in another excellent short kick inside 50 which finds Ben Hobbs leading.

Hobbs makes no mistake on the set shot from directly in front.

Nic Martin strikes cleanly for Essendon’s fourth goal of the night!

Some more excellent ball movement from the Dons and it ends with a lovely short kick inside 50 from Todd Goldstein to find Martin totally unmarked after he’d ghosted into the Bombers forward line.

Martin’s off to a fast start, he’s got six disposals already tonight.

Finnbar Maley is on the board with his first kick in AFL football!

There’s a long kick inside 50 from Luke Parker and Maley skies in and takes a HUGE pack mark in the forward pocket.

He then goes back and snaps truly from the set shot like he’s Eddie Betts.

How good is that?!

We’re 10 minutes into this one and the Bombers’ field kicking has been mighty impressive.

The Dons are operating at around 80 per cent by foot so far and there’s a faster cadence in the way they’re moving the ball around the ground so far.

Cam Zurhaar has the Kangaroos on the board after winning a free kick inside 50!

Zurhaar was tackled by Ben McKay, but the umpires deemed that McKay’s tackle slipped juuuust over the shoulder of the Kangaroos forward.

The Kangaroos needed that one badly.

This is an excellent start from the Bombers!

Archie Perkins drills another set shot from virtually the same spot he kicked his last goal from.

Essendon’s ball movement is on tonight. Nic Martin completely ripped up North’s zone by kicking through the corridor to find Isaac Kako.

Kako then handed off to Hobbs, who found Perkins inside 50.

Dons leading the clearance count 3-1 so far and they’ve kicked three goals from three inside 50 entries.

Kyle Langford kicks truly from a set shot 40m out directly in front.

There was a big contest on the wing and Luke Davies-Uniacke had a handball over his head intercepted by Jade Gresham and the rest is history.

It was a lovely kick inside 50 from Peter Wright that found Langford out the back of the Roos defence.

 Archie Perkins flushes a set shot from 45m on a slight angle to give the Bombers the perfect start.

The Kangaroos actually got the opening centre clearance as Harry Sheezel steamed off halfback, but Ben Hobbs tackled him and forced the turnover.

The ball landed in the lap of Zach Merrett, who put an inch-perfect kick inside 50 to find Perkins on the lead.

After all the build-up we’re finally off and running at Docklands!

Tristan Xerri and Todd Goldstein are the two men in the middle.

Harry Sheezel starts at halfback for North, while Luke Parker is at the first centre bounce manning Essendon skipper Zach Merrett.

With Kane Cornes banned, Luke Hodge has spoken to Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson regarding the whole saga.

Here’s what Clarkson told Hodge on Channel 7’s pre-game coverage.

“They say those in glass houses should not throw stones so I know a bit about Kane’s history,” he said.

“I think from the host broadcast … I have a view that there needs to be a good balance, particularly when you talk about the players, they are the product of the game.

“I have been copping it for 20 years, especially as the coach and you have to cop it on the chin, but I think it is an indication of our stability as a club. 

“This is a club decision from the board through to the football department with Todd heading it up, we need to look after our people, and we thought it was untoward.”

Kane Cornes is addressing North Melbourne’s ban of him entering their changerooms.

Here’s what he’s said on Channel 7’s coverage of tonight’s Bombers-Kangaroos match.

“I think it was all reasonably strong criticism but it was fair,” he said.

“This is a club who has won nine games in the past four seasons so they would understand with this game and underperformance comes strong scrutiny, and that is what they have received.

“I am disappointed they have taken this route because as a club they need to stand up and answer hard questions.

“I would have loved opportunity to go in there, and it is unfortunate the North fans don’t get to hear the responses to some of that.

“I think strong clubs stand up in times of need and when times are tough, it is easy to run away.

“I am disappointed and think they have been poorly advised.”

North Melbourne football boss Todd Viney is not prepared to back down on his club’s ban on Kane Cornes.

Viney called Cornes’ comments on Kangaroos captain Jy Simpkin “extraordinarily poor”.

t just got to a point where the commentary towards some of our people has been below par,” he told 3AW.

“It’s been constant with not a lot of opportunity to reply to it.

Both Essendon and North Melbourne will line up as originally selected this evening at Docklands.

Jye Menzie will start as Essendon’s sub, while North’s sub is Bailey Scott.

Here’s how the two team line-ups look.

AFL legend Paul Roos has urged the football media to not dismiss the Kangaroos’ decision to ban controversial pundit Kane Cornes from their changerooms.

Roos, who has spent time in the coaches’ box and in the media sphere, has a unique perspective to offer on the whole saga.

Here’s what he said on the ABC’s AFL Daily podcast:

“Let’s not dismiss this. That’s the message to the media, don’t dismiss this, because if we want to have relationships with footy clubs and bring out personalities and interview and great stuff, we can’t dismiss what Todd is saying,” Roos said. 

“His players are pissed off. They’re really pissed off. So there’s a danger that if Kane walks in those rooms that something physical may happen. That’s the way I’m reading it. 

“So this is not just about the North Melbourne footy club, this is potentially protecting Kane Cornes.”

Melbourne will be without star midfielder Clayton Oliver against West Coast on Saturday.

Oliver, who has dealt with off-field issues in the past, has been granted the week off in order to “prioritise his wellbeing”.

“Clayton has had a difficult week personally and as such, both he and the club have agreed that it would be best for him not to play against the Eagles on Saturday,” Dees footy boss Alan Richardson said.

“We expect Clayton to return to the program next week, but as always his mental and physical health will be the priority.

“As an industry, it’s pleasing to see the progress we’ve made in normalising players putting their hand up when they need support.

“The club’s focus is on surrounding Clayton with the care he needs and we ask that his privacy is respected.”

Oliver has been one of Melbourne’s most consistent players so far this season, averaging 27.6 disposals and seven clearances per contest.

Good evening footy fans and welcome to ABC Sport’s live coverage of round eight of the AFL season!

Essendon and North Melbourne kick things off for this round at Docklands Stadium in what’s sure to be a tightly-contested battle between two genuine rivals.

Strap yourselves in as we bring you all the news from around the league as well as the live updates from that match.