North Melbourne blacklist Kane Cornes over TV ‘bullying’ of Harry Sheezel
An AFL club has sensationally black-listed Kane Cornes over criticism the controversial media figure made to one of its players.
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North Melbourne will refuse to engage with Kane Cornes after the Kangaroos accused the polarising media personality of “bullying behaviour” and “vindictive attacks” on the club and its players.
In a rare move, Kangaroos football boss Todd Viney criticised Cornes’ media commentary at a press conference on Wednesday, revealing the club had declined a request for Cornes to be part of an interview with coach Alastair Clarkson in Thursday night’s game against Essendon.
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“We received a request from Channel 7, for Kane Cornes and Luke Hodge to come and do an interview with our coach,” Viney said.
“But on the back of some commentary that we feel has been … over two and a half years there’s been some personal attacks on the club and vindictive attacks that we feel have been unwarranted.
“We understand the role of the media … but we believe some of the commentary from Kane and particularly earlier this week with a couple of our players in Jy Simpkin and Sheezel overstepped the line, was inappropriate, targeted, vindictive, bullying behaviour that we as a club won’t stand for.
“We hope for 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 7, Luke Hodge and whoever else they’d like to present to have the conversation with Clarko, it’s still open, but until we start hearing some more respectful dialogue from Kane around our people and our club, we won’t be engaging with him on any of his media channels.”
Viney said he had not spoken to Cornes, who he said “isn’t welcome”, but added he didn’t expect an apology.
“That’s up to Kane. I’m not holding my breath on an apology,” Viney said.
“We understand Kane’s role in the media … but it’s important that we say enough is enough and we won’t be bullied on that stuff.
“We’ll stick up for (our people) and we think it’s just crossed the line.”
Cornes has repeatedly accused North Melbourne youngster Harry Sheezel of “statpadding” and even labelled his style of play “Sheezy Ball” in a savage critique on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters on Monday.
Sheezel won the 2023 AFL Rising Star and has made a strong start to his career, but Cornes savaged the 20-year-old for racking up cheap touches and not impacting the game forward of centre.
“I’m actually a little bit concerned with Harry Sheezel, he’s fourth in the comp for disposals yet he’s 17th for score involvement,” Cornes said.
“Sheezy Ball is what I’m calling it. Forget stat padding, he is getting the Sheezy’s. He’s getting far too many Sheezys.
“30 touches (vs Port Adelaide) one score involvement. He may be the least of their (North’s) problems, but I’m telling you Clarko has to coach this really hard.
“Get him in the front half of the ground and have his disposals more damaging than that.
“Comparing him to Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, similar player, similar position and similar age. They’ve got similar disposals but look at the metres gained and the score involvements, that’s what he’s got to aspire to.”
Cornes responds to ‘strange’ ban
“What are my thoughts? Banned from the North Melbourne rooms because I had some comments one of their gun players Harry Sheezel, who I really rate,” Cornes responded on Instagram.
“But they’re not using him in the right way and I feel like he’s statpadding and getting his possessions in non-damaging areas and North Melbourne have to challenge him to win his footy in better spots and be more impactful.
“It is strange that Clarko, with all his experience, wasn’t able to answer some of those questions. Banned from the North Melbourne rooms.”
St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt fired up and snapped back at Cornes in the wake of his strong criticism of Sheezel.
“I reckon you’re being way too harsh,” Riewoldt said.
“Branding it and calling it ‘Sheezy Ball’ come on man. He’s the sort of bloke that if he had of walked in the door at Port Adelaide you would have loved the way he goes about it and how professional he is.”
Cornes interjected: “It doesn’t mean you can’t coach him hard.”
On Tuesday night, Dale Thomas again challenged Cornes on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters, saying: “You’re going after a kid who’s played some of his best football, he’s 51 games into a career, a 20-year-old who’s done nothing wrong.”
Cornes also took aim at North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin for “mouthing off” to former Roo Jason Horne-Francis in a feisty game against Port Adelaide on the weekend.”He has won 16 games in six years, I’d be shutting my mouth and trying to turn this footy club around before I start mouthing off,” Cornes said.
For his part, Sheezel told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday he was just playing his role for the team and was happy to play in the midfield or off halfback.
“Back end of last year when I was playing my best football, I was able to impact the scoreboard a bit more,” Sheezel said.
“I’m still working at that. I went back to halfback on the weekend and was able to play my role in the second half and have a bit of an impact there in helping us defensively.
“I’m not too sure where I’m playing this week, it’s just week by week doing what I can and listening to the coaches.”
It’s been a tough week for North Melbourne, with gun small forward Paul Curtis handed a three-match ban for a tackle on Port Adelaide’s Josh Sinn, which was upheld at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.
The suspension was publicly slammed by senior players Luke Parker and Jy Simpkin, but Viney said the Roos have opted not to appeal the ban given the short turnaround to Thursday’s game against Essendon.
Originally published as North Melbourne blacklist Kane Cornes over TV ‘bullying’ of Harry Sheezel
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