Kane Cornes refuses to back down in criticism of Richmond despite revealing “robust’’ conversation with premiership team-mate Damien Hardwick
PORT Adelaide great Kane Cornes is refusing to back down from his comments that Richmond “ got ahead of themselves’’ in the crushing loss to St Kilda.
PORT Adelaide great Kane Cornes is refusing to back down from his comments that Richmond “got ahead of themselves’’ in the crushing loss to St Kilda, despite revealing a “pretty robust’’ conversation with Power premiership teammate Damien Hardwick.
Cornes said he “had it out’’ with Tigers coach Hardwick on the phone on Monday after becoming embroiled in a war of words on the weekend following top-four chasing Richmond’s shock 67-point loss to the Saints at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
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Cornes tweeted the Tigers had “got ahead of themselves’’ and at his press conference after the game Hardwick — a Port 2004 premiership team-mate — fired back, saying “he’s there to write s. t comments.”
“I’ve given him a call, we’ve spoken,’’ Cornes told Sportsday SA, saying there was “some history'’ between the pair because of his regular criticism of Richmond.
This includes revealing how much Port likes beating the Tigers and knocks on captain Trent Cotchin and the club's poor finals losses.
“I don’t want to reveal what was said in a private conversation but I’ve never had a problem with him, although I’ve been pretty critical of Richmond,’’ Cornes said.
“It does date back to an article I wrote last week I think about the (Port-Richmond) rivalry and how I loved beating Richmond and it was the same with the Crows, there are a couple of teams you love beating, which is for a number of reasons.
“But it (Hardwick’s criticism) was a little personal I felt and that dates back for a while now.
“He probably hadn’t even seen the tweet and didn’t know exactly what was said (when asked at his post-match press conference) so he was clearly frustrated.’’
Cornes added on Channel Nine’s Footy Classified, “we have a premiership reunion every Thursday before the (AFL) grand final and it did get back to me that he was upset with a few comments that I had made over a long period of time.
“But he made it very clear that he separates me as the media performer and a former teammate. There’s no hard feelings.
“We had it out but I stand by my comments, he stood by his. But I think there is no question that Richmond got ahead of themselves and I said that to him on the phone.
“They are not the first side to do it and they definitely won’t be the last.
“I said the same thing about the (GWS) Giants when Adelaide knocked them off in round one.
“The Giants expected everything just to roll on, physically they were not there and the Crows beat them.
“St Kilda had 113 more disposals than Richmond and yet laid 13 more tackles, so explain to me how that can happen if you turn up to play.
“I am surprised he (Hardwick) backed his players in and said their skill level was off. If I'm coach the last thing I look at is skill level because when they lose like they did it was attitude.’’
andrew.capel@news.com.au