North Melbourne has taken a bold stance against media commentator Kane Cornes, declaring a ban on his access to the club following what they describe as a series of "vindictive" and "personal attacks" on their players. The decision, announced by Kangaroos general manager of football Todd Viney on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, marks a significant escalation in the club's ongoing frustrations with Cornes, who has been a prominent critic of the team for over two and a half years.
Viney explained that the club's refusal to allow Cornes to interview coach Alastair Clarkson ahead of their upcoming Round 8 clash against Essendon at Marvel Stadium was a direct response to Cornes' recent comments targeting vice-captain Harry Sheezel and captain Jy Simpkin. Cornes had accused Sheezel of "stat padding" and criticized Simpkin for his conduct during a recent match against Port Adelaide, where tensions flared between Simpkin and former North Melbourne player Jason Horne-Francis.
"This was inappropriate, vindictive, bullying behaviour that we as a club won't stand for," Viney asserted during a press conference. He emphasized that the club is committed to protecting its players and staff from what they perceive as unfair media scrutiny. "We’ll look after our people and we won’t be bullied," he added, making it clear that the club has drawn a "line in the sand" regarding Cornes' treatment of their players.
The controversy began when Cornes criticized Sheezel's performance following North Melbourne's hard-fought loss to Port Adelaide, stating that the young player was accumulating possessions in non-damaging areas of the field. Cornes went so far as to label Sheezel's style of play as "Sheezy Ball," suggesting that despite being fourth in the league for disposals, he was not contributing effectively to the team's scoring opportunities. "He’s fourth in the comp for disposals, yet he’s 17th for score involvements," Cornes remarked on his program, The Agenda Setters.
In response to Cornes' comments, Sheezel acknowledged that while he could improve his impact in games, he felt that Cornes had "overstepped the boundary a bit" with his criticism. "Looking at what he was saying, I do agree I could have more impact on games, but I’m playing the role my coaches have assigned to me," Sheezel stated, defending his contributions to the team.
Simpson, who was also targeted by Cornes, was cleared of instigating a melee during the same match, a decision that further fueled the Kangaroos' frustration with the commentator's remarks. Viney noted that the club was disappointed with the AFL Tribunal's decision to uphold a three-game suspension for forward Paul Curtis, which they felt was unjust given Curtis's intent to play the game fairly.
North Melbourne's management has expressed a willingness to engage with media outlets for balanced critique, but they have drawn a firm line against what they see as personal attacks. "We understand the role of the media, and our job to work with the media to promote our game and to inform our members on stuff that’s going on, but we believe some of the commentary from Kane, particularly early this week with some of our players, overstepped the line," Viney explained.
Despite the ongoing tensions, Cornes remains undeterred, taking to social media to voice his thoughts on the ban. "What are my thoughts? Banned from the North Melbourne rooms because, essentially, I had some comments about one of their gun players, Harry Sheezel, who I’ve said a number of times I really rate," he posted on Instagram. He continued to argue that Sheezel was not being utilized effectively by the coaching staff, suggesting that the team needed to challenge him to be more impactful on the field.
In the wake of the ban, other media personalities have weighed in on the situation. Former St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt defended Sheezel, arguing that Cornes was being overly harsh in his critique. "Branding it and calling it ‘Sheezy Ball’—come on man. He’s the sort of bloke that if he had walked in the door at Port Adelaide you would have loved the way he goes about it and how professional he is," Riewoldt stated.
As tensions continue to rise, North Melbourne is preparing for their crucial match against Essendon, with the club hoping to secure their second win of the season. The situation has highlighted the delicate balance between media commentary and player welfare, with the Kangaroos firmly standing their ground against what they perceive as bullying behavior. The outcome of this ongoing saga remains to be seen as both the club and Cornes navigate this contentious landscape.
In conclusion, as North Melbourne gears up for their match, all eyes will be on how they perform under the current scrutiny and whether this bold stand against Cornes will have a positive impact on their season moving forward.
