Kane Cornes accused of ‘bullying’ media rival Trent Cotchin

Football media personality Kane Cornes has been labelled a “bully” after his brutal takedown of a Richmond legend live on air.

Kane Cornes has been labelled a “bully” over his brutal takedown of a media rival during a segment on Nine’s The Sunday Footy Show.

The Port Adelaide great took aim at Richmond champion Trent Cotchin over a video where the former Tigers captain spoke over the top of vision grabbed from Collingwood’s loss to Sydney in Round 1.

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Cotchin provided his expert analysis on where it was going wrong for Collingwood in a video posted to Channel 7’s social media accounts — but Cornes feasted upon the segment while making light of Cotchin’s somewhat stiff presentation style.

Cornes’ savage clip drew the ire of fellow Tigers legend and popular Channel 7 commentator Matthew Richardson.

“Taking the piss out of 2 AFL premiership captains. Bar getting lower and lower,” Richardson wrote.

Cornes responded by calling Richardson “sensitive”.

But Cornes has now been dubbed a “bully” by the Herald Sun’s Mark Robinson over the segment and his follow up response after being called out.

“When Matthew Richardson defended Cotchin on social media, Cornes accused Richo of being too sensitive,” Robinson wrote.

“It’s a narcissistic response: Be the provocateur and then be critical of the person calling it out.

“A cheap laugh at somebody’s expense and it’s a form of bullying.”

Kane Cornes and Trent Cotchin in front of the camera.

Cornes’ takedown of Cotchin left the Footy Show panel of Nathan Brown, Matthew Lloyd, Tony Jones and Damian Barrett in stitches.

Cornes later said: “Take it in the right way. We take the mickey out of ourselves.”

Jones responded to one quip by saying: “You’ve just character assassinated Trent Cotchin.”

The segment ended with Jones looking down the camera and saying: “To the Cotchin family, our sincere apologies.”

While Jones offered up an apology live on air, Robinson says every member of the panel should be apologising to the Tigers great in person.

“Those same people will likely say “hello” to Cotchin next time they see him at the footy. And act all friendly and innocent, without their sniggering gang, of course,” Robinson wrote.

“They should apologise to Cotchin, instead.”

Cotchin analyses Collingwood's struggles against the Swans. Photo: 7AFL

Cornes’ takedown in response. Photo: Twitter, @FootyonNine.

Cornes responded to Richardson when speaking on his SEN Breakfast show on Monday morning.

He said he had not spoken to Cotchin about the segment.

When asked if he went too far, Cornes responded: “No it wasn’t Joel Selwood. It was the Trent Cotchin bit that he did on social media.

“We have fun on the Sunday Football Show. We take the mickey out of ourselves more than we take the mickey out of anyone else. I think Richo’s being a little bit sensitive there.

“If you watch the Front Bar on Channel 7, their whole show is taking the mickey out of people. So I was hoping it would be taken in the right way and 98 per cent of people I think thought it was OK.

Cornes said he would be “fine” if Cotchin has a crack at him.