‘Harden up’: Brutal criticism strikes a nerve at Port Adelaide

Kane Cornes’ “savage” comments about Port Adelaide’s preliminary final performance has reportedly struck a nerve at the club.

Kane Cornes and Ken Hinkley.

Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes has bluntly told his former club to “harden up” following reports his analysis of the one-sided preliminary final upset Power coach Ken Hinkley.

Over the weekend, veteran reporter Caroline Wilson revealed there was a “level of disappointment” at Port Adelaide regarding “savage” comments made by former stars Warren Tredrea and Cornes.

The two footy pundits ripped into Port after the “embarrassing” 17.14 (116) to 6.9 (45) preliminary final defeat to the Western Bulldogs, and their remarks reportedly struck a nerve with Power coach Ken Hinkley.

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Speaking on Footy Classified, Cornes explained why his former teammates are not exempt from criticism.

“It is an interesting role when you come into the media, and it’s the most challenging part of doing it is how you comment on a former club, a club that you love,” he said.

“But for a club that sees itself as the most ruthless club in their competition, that their mission is we exist to win championships, can you imagine (former coach) Fos Williams being sensitive to a couple of media comments on the back of what I believe is their second most embarrassing performance in finals history?”

Ken Hinkley was reportedly unimpressed with Kane Cornes’ remarks. Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Cornes pointed out that Port Adelaide’s GM of football Chris Davies described the club’s performance in the preliminary final as an “abomination”.

“Nothing I said was stronger than ‘abomination’ … you don’t get any stronger than that,” Cornes said.

“Me showing clips of Port Adelaide players shirking contests in the first quarter of a final that was set up to win should not affect Ken Hinkley.

“I think he has got to harden up a little bit, because no one has said more nice things about Ken Hinkley in the last nine years than myself. I’ve been incredibly supportive.

“I feel for the supporters who booked the tickets and spent thousands of dollars to come over, everything set up for them. If the club is sensitive about some commentary from two former players who have a job to do, I thought it was quite balanced, then I think they need to harden up a little bit.”

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd backed Cornes’ comments: “They’ve got more things to worry about than two former players and what they’ve got to say.

“They need to harden up. They are far too sensitive. They were an embarrassment. They lost by 71 points. They played shell-shocked footy. Give us the answers of what went wrong. I want to hear that, rather than anything Kane has had to say.

“Tell us actually what happened. What went wrong in your preparation? Why couldn‘t your players handle the heat of a prelim when they had everything going for them? That’s where they should be putting all of their focus.”

It was Port’s second consecutive preliminary final defeat. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Davies was unequivocal when it came to Port’s performance, lamenting yet another missed opportunity to end a 13-year absence from the grand final.

“In the cold, hard light of day, there’s some obvious parts of the game that we didn’t get right,” he told reporters last week.

“Our work around the ball was abysmal and our contest work around the ground wasn’t at the level that it needs to be.

“We were beaten by a really good Western Bulldogs team, but we didn’t give an account of ourselves that we’re overly proud of.

“I’d be sitting here more worried if we had a list that we didn’t believe would improve.

“We still think the list has got some improvement, which I think is really important right now.

“Saturday night was an abomination; I get it, and we’re not hiding from that.

“But we think we’ve got a group who will get better.”

With Alex Conrad, NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Harden up’: Brutal criticism strikes a nerve at Port Adelaide