‘We called it fat club’: Kane Cornes takes aim at ‘out of shape’ AFL star

Kane Cornes has blasted West Coast Eagles midfielder Elliot Yeo, claiming the two-time All-Australian is “clearly out of shape”.

Elliot Yeo and Kane Cornes.

Former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes has blasted two-time All-Australian Elliot Yeo for his “lack of impact” during Saturday’s 84-point loss to the Power, claiming the West Coast Eagles midfielder is “clearly out of shape”.

West Coast could only muster four goals during the one-sided Round 6 demolition, with Port Adelaide securing a comfortable 18.9 (117) to 4.9 (33) victory at home.

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Yeo contributed four disposals and three tackles before he was ruled out of the contest with concussion following a head knock.

The 28-year-old has been plagued with injury over the last few years, playing just 23 AFL games since the start of 2020.

Speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified, Cornes ripped into Yeo for how he “presented himself” at Adelaide Oval on the weekend.

“I’m really conscious of the fact you can’t label an AFL player overweight now for the backlash that will come with that, but I was watching Elliot Yeo’s performance on the weekend and his lack of impact in the game,” Cornes said.

“His standards have slipped at West Coast … I reckon across the board standards have slipped and he shouldn’t playing if he presents like that.

“That could be one of the reasons West Coast are in the position they’re in.

“He is always injured. He has to get fitter.

“I think some players can present as full-time athletes, when their body is their one tool, better than they have … he looked out of shape to me.

“We used to call it ‘fat club’ (at Port Adelaide) if you’re above 60 skin folds. Once you get into the AFL system your body is your only weapon. You have to hold yourself to elite standards.”

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd agreed: “You’re a full-time professional, so you can stay that fit even if you’re not playing AFL football.”

In 2020, Cornes copped backlash for body-shaming Adelaide Crows forward Taylor Walker, with whom he has a long-running feud.

Elliot Yeo has struggled with injuries in recent years. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Eagles have endured a rough start to the year. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brisbane Lions great Jonathan Brown echoed Cornes’ remarks on Fox Footy’s On The Couch, asking: “What’s happened to Elliot Yeo?”

“I‘m a big fan of Elliot, I played with him as a teammate and he was an up and coming star at Brisbane before he went to West Coast, I’m concerned though,” Brown said on Monday evening.

“We haven‘t seen the real Elliot Yeo for the better part of three years now.

“I just hope we can see the best of Elliot Yeo again, because for three years we‘ve missed it.”

West Coast is currently reeling at 17th on the AFL ladder, claiming just one victory in the opening six rounds of the 2022 season.

Four years after winning the premiership, the Eagles are at risk of earning the dreaded wooden spoon — albeit in a season marred by injury and frustrating Covid-19 setbacks.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson said his players must own the club’s Covid crisis and move on if they are to salvage a season that is “well and truly slipping away”.

“We can’t live on that, we’ve moved on from that, and there will be some residual (effects) from what we went through but we can’t come in every week and say, ‘Oh, we’ve had a tough run’,” he said.

“We’ve got to own it.

“We’re trying to balance what’s happened with where we’re at and I’m more worried about (where we are) than what’s happened.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do.

“The season is well and truly slipping away.

“We’ve got to find a way.”

The Eagles will next face the Richmond Tigers at Perth Stadium on Friday evening, with the first bounce scheduled for 8.10pm AEST.

Originally published as ‘We called it fat club’: Kane Cornes takes aim at ‘out of shape’ AFL star