Luke Beveridge and Kane Cornes have heated confrontation before Cats-Bulldogs clash

Thursday’s blockbuster was centred around Bailey Smith against his old side, but attention has quickly shifted to a tense exchange pre-game between Luke Beveridge and Channel 7’s Kane Cornes.

Kane Cornes has labelled a pre-game run in with a “combative” Luke Beveridge as “an awkward situation” on Thursday night.

The Channel 7 commentator was on the ground in the build up to the Geelong and Western Bulldogs clash when Beveridge passed by and traded words with Cornes.

Cornes tried to continue the conversation, but the Bulldogs coach turned his shoulder and continued walking.

It’s well known the pair have a frosty relationship, with Beveridge revealing on Footy Classified earlier in the season he had avoided appearing on Channel 9 due to Cornes’ employment there.

Beveridge refused to get drawn into the controversy when asked in his post-match press conference.

“What incident?” Beveridge said when asked.

“Ultimately we come in here and talk about the game, I think that’s probably all we’re after, isn’t it?” he said.

“If you’re trying to drum up some controversy, I don’t think there was any.

“I’ve really got nothing to say.”

“I know what you’re trying to do Mitch (Cleary), you’re not gonna get me to bite.”

Luke Beveridge. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes. Picture: Michael Klein

Cornes said he didn’t have an issue with the altercation during the pre-game broadcast.

“There was a confrontation, there were some words spoken but look, he’s combative, they do like to protect their club and their players,” he said on Channel 7.

“I don’t have an issue with it, it’s a big game of footy, and clearly the relationship between myself and the Western Bulldogs isn’t a strong one.

“It was an awkward situation because he was staring at me quite strongly and I didn’t really know what to say so I just said “g’day Bevo” and it wasn’t received that well.

“I would’ve liked to have gone on with the conversation and had it respectfully but it wasn’t the time or the place.”

Cornes confirmed recently that he is banned from both the Bulldogs and Kangaroos’ rooms.

Fox Footy analyst Leigh Montagna said at half time it was “not a good look”, while David King said the pair looked “foolish”.

“This is what Kane does, this is his schtick,” King said on the broadcast.

“Tonight there are no winners, it makes two, I think, intelligent people look quite foolish.”

Originally published as Luke Beveridge and Kane Cornes have heated confrontation before Cats-Bulldogs clash