Source : the age
By Andrew Wu
Kane Cornes’ criticism of North Melbourne stars Harry Sheezel and Jy Simpkin was the last straw for the Kangaroos, who took the sensational step on Wednesday of placing a ban on the game’s most prominent pundit over what they feel are his “personal and vindictive” attacks on their players and the club.
The decision by North football boss Todd Viney to publicly take on Cornes was the culmination of more than 2½ years of frustration held by the club towards him, stemming back to president Sonja Hood’s unveiling of Alastair Clarkson as coach in August 2022.
Kane Cornes has been banned by the Roos.Credit: Getty Images
The club is fed up at being targeted by Cornes when former No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis finds trouble, most recently on the weekend when the now-Port star landed in hot water with coach Ken Hinkley and the AFL over a scuffle with Simpkin that escalated into a melee.
Horne-Francis gave away two 50-metre penalties, costing his team a goal in a close game, but on Monday night Simpkin was the player slammed by Cornes for being “on the lip all day” in an attack senior North figures believed had crossed the line.
Internally, the Kangaroos feel vindicated by Simpkin’s successful appeal of a fine for instigating a melee, while Horne-Francis accepted a fine for the same charge.
North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin.Credit: AFL Photos
Seven had planned for Cornes and Hawthorn great Luke Hodge to take part in a pre-game interview with Clarkson on Thursday night, but the Kangaroos rejected Cornes’ involvement. They have said they will also boycott all the numerous shows that Cornes is part of.
“The Alastair Clarkson they thought they were getting was the Hawthorn version of Alastair Clarkson, where he was strong enough and brave enough to front up and answer that type of criticism face-to-face and man-to-man,” Cornes said on Seven News on Wednesday night.
“For him to run away from criticism like this, and essentially not be brave enough to answer it face-to-face with me in the change room is the most disappointing thing.”
Though North say they are open to “balanced critique” of their performances, the club is fed up with what they feel is Cornes’s “inappropriate, targeted, vindictive bullying behaviour” to players and off-field staff.
Cornes, who was formerly a columnist for The Age, declined to comment to this masthead. Seven’s head of sport Chris Jones did not wish to comment. SEN, on which Cornes also regularly appears, also declined to comment when contacted.
Critical of Hood’s manner in announcing the coaching coup, Cornes has also accused the president of going into “hiding” weeks later after the twin blows of Clarkson standing down over the Hawthorn racism scandal, and Horne-Francis’ trade request to Port Adelaide after just one season at Arden Street.
Tempers flared between North big man Tristan Xerri and former Roos top pick Jason Horne-Francis.Credit: AFL Photos
More recently, he attacked the club over a social media post announcing the re-signing of star midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke. The post featured Davies-Uniacke alongside Simpkin, Nick Larkey, Tristan Xerri, Cam Zurhaar and Sheezel, all of whom have recently recommitted to the club, with the cheeky caption: “Is the mass exodus in the room with us right now?”
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson.Credit: Getty Images
The quip was in reference to a column Cornes wrote for this masthead in May 2023, when he said North’s stars should leave the club, just days after Clarkson took indefinite leave to focus on his mental health.
North’s senior players were consulted before Viney’s announcement, though the wider playing group had not been told of the Cornes ban at the time.
“On the back of some commentary that we feel over my short time here, there’s been some real personal attacks on the club, vindictive attacks that we feel that have been unwarranted,” Viney said.
“We understand the role of the media, and our job to work with the media to promote our game and to inform our members on stuff that’s going on, [but] we believe some of the commentary from Kane, particularly early this week with some of our players, Jy Simpkin and Harry Sheezel overstepped the line – inappropriate, targeted, vindictive bullying behaviour that we as a club won’t stand for.
“We’re open to balanced critique of our performances, but when it starts to overstep the line and become personal it’s my responsibility and the club’s responsibility to look after our people.
“Therefore Channel Seven, Luke Hodge and whoever they’d like to present to have a conversation with Clarko is still open, but until we feel like there’s a more respectful conversation and dialogue from Kane around our people and club, we won’t be engaging with him on any of his media channels.”
Clarkson said Cornes, a premiership winner and 300-gamer in his time at Port Adelaide, should have a better appreciation of the difficulties confronting players.
“There’s also a point in time where empathy and compassion for the competitor needs to be given pretty strong consideration, particularly by guys that have played the game at the top level and know better,” Clarkson said.
“Because they’ve all been in exactly the same position as all the players. There’s a time where you do draw a line in the sand.”
Young Roos gun Harry Sheezel.Credit: Getty Images
Viney is not expecting an apology from Cornes, who did not walk back from his criticism of Sheezel in comments he made on his Instagram account on Wednesday in response to North’s ban on him.
“What are my thoughts? Banned from the North Melbourne rooms because, essentially, I had some comments about one of their gun players, Harry Sheezel, who I’ve said a number of times I really rate, but they’re just not using him in the right way,” Cornes said in a post on his Instagram account.
“I feel like he’s stat-padding and getting his possessions in non-damaging areas, and that North Melbourne have to really challenge him to win his footy in better spots and be more impactful.
“So, it is strange that Clarko, with all his experience, wasn’t able to answer some of those questions, as well as all of the struggles at North Melbourne and the areas that I’ve been strong on with their lack of defensive action as well.
“But no, banned from the North Melbourne rooms? Tune in tomorrow night to see how we cover that game, Essendon and North, and let’s see if North Melbourne can chalk up their second win of the year.”
Cornes has accused Sheezel, 20, of “stat-padding” and being on “Sheezey Street” for not having enough impact with his possessions.
“He’s fourth in the comp for disposals, yet he’s 17th for score involvements. ‘Sheezey ball’ is what I’m calling it,” Cornes said on Seven’s The Agenda Setters program.
“Forget stat-padding. He is getting ‘the Sheezeys.’ He is not on Arden Street, he is on Sheezey Street.”
Though Sheezel has accepted some of the criticism was accurate, he said Cornes had “overstepped the boundary a bit”.
“Maybe [Cornes went] a little too far with some of the terms he used,” Sheezel said on SEN. “Looking at what he was saying, I do agree I could have more impact on games, but I’m playing the role my coaches have assigned to me.
“On the stat-padding side, I don’t believe in that. [But] I’m never going to be perfect at it, [and] I do understand what he’s saying, that I could be more damaging with the ball.”
Cornes said Simpkin should not have been sledging Port players.
“He was on the lip all day. This is a captain who can’t even play in his own midfield, playing half-forward,” Cornes said. “I’m just reporting what I’ve heard. He was extremely vocal.
“And just repeating, he’s won 16 games in six years, and I’d just be shutting my mouth and trying to turn this footy club around before I start mouthing off and throwing my weight around.”
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