Kane Cornes has found himself at the center of a media storm after being banned from interviewing North Melbourne players and staff due to his recent critical comments about the club's young star, Harry Sheezel, and captain, Jy Simpkin. The decision comes ahead of Thursday night's highly anticipated AFL clash between North Melbourne and Essendon, as tensions mount between the club and the Channel 7 pundit.
In a series of pointed remarks, Cornes accused Sheezel of accumulating what he termed “cheap” possessions and engaging in “stat-padding” during games. He further criticized Simpkin for his behavior during a recent loss to Port Adelaide, suggesting that the captain should focus on improving the team's performance rather than voicing complaints.
"I’ve said a number of times that I really rate Harry Sheezel, but they’re just not using him in the right way," Cornes stated in an Instagram post, expressing his disappointment over the club's decision to exclude him from pre-game discussions. He emphasized that Sheezel needs to be challenged to win the ball in more impactful areas. "He’s getting his possessions in non-damaging areas, and North Melbourne has to really challenge him to win his footy in better spots and be more impactful," he added.
The fallout began after North Melbourne's football boss, Todd Viney, labeled Cornes' comments as “inappropriate, targeted, vindictive bullying behavior” that the club would not tolerate. "We understand the role of the media, but when it starts to become personal, it’s my responsibility to look after our people," Viney remarked, confirming that Cornes would not be permitted to conduct any interviews with the team ahead of the Essendon match.
This ban follows Cornes’ harsh critique of the team after their narrow loss to Port Adelaide, where he claimed Simpkin was “mouthing off” during the game and should focus on turning the struggling club around, which has recorded only 16 wins in the past six years. Viney’s response indicates a clear line drawn by North Melbourne, emphasizing their unwillingness to engage with Cornes on his media platforms for the foreseeable future.
In the wake of these events, Sheezel himself responded to the controversy during an appearance on SEN radio. He acknowledged that while he agrees with some of Cornes' points, he felt the comments may have crossed a line. "To be honest, Kane is entitled to his opinion at the end of the day, it’s his role in the media. I can’t control that. Maybe it overstepped the boundary a bit," Sheezel said, highlighting the pressure that comes with being an AFL player.
Sheezel, who is averaging an impressive 30 disposals this season, mentioned that the media scrutiny can be challenging, but he has managed to bounce back from the recent attention. "I wish it hadn’t blown up into what it has but that’s the nature of it. I just hope I can get back to my football," he expressed. He also noted that while he could improve his impact on games, he does not believe in the idea of stat-padding.
Former St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt weighed in on the debate, suggesting that while Sheezel would indeed love to increase his numbers, Cornes' comments were overly harsh. "You don’t think he’s stat-padding?" Cornes challenged Riewoldt during their discussion, indicating his firm stance on the matter. Riewoldt countered, arguing that Sheezel's potential should not be overshadowed by the criticism he has received.
Collingwood premiership player Dale Thomas also defended Sheezel, stating that his numbers are “serviceable and outstanding considering the flexibility” he has shown on the field. Hawthorn great Luke Hodge echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the young player is suffering due to a lack of talent around him to convert opportunities into scores.
Despite the backlash, Cornes has not retracted his statements. He reiterated that he believes Sheezel is not damaging the opposition and compared his impact to that of Wanganeen-Milera, further asserting that the coaching staff needs to demand more from the talented player. "It’s just asking more of a very talented player," he said, maintaining his position amidst the controversy.
As the situation unfolds, the spotlight remains on North Melbourne as they prepare for their upcoming match against Essendon. The club will be looking to secure their second win of the season, while Cornes will be covering the game from a distance, having been excluded from the team's inner workings.
In conclusion, the clash between media commentary and club dynamics has reached a boiling point, raising questions about the role of pundits in sports and the impact of their words on young athletes. As North Melbourne navigates this turbulent period, all eyes will be on how they perform against Essendon and whether they can turn their fortunes around on the field.
