- Channel Seven star has been told not to come to media opportunity
- Sensational move comes after star blasted young footballer on TV
Controversial Channel Seven star Kane Cornes has been slapped with a ban by North Melbourne after launching a series of what the club called ‘personal and vindictive’ attacks on their star Harry Sheezel.
The Kangaroos have banned Cornes from conducting a pre-game interview with coach Alastair Clarkson ahead of the club’s clash with Essendon on Thursday night and accused him of bullying the 20-year-old on TV.
The club will also refuse to have anything to do with other media opportunities involving Cornes, who also works for SEN and has a big presence on social media.
‘On the back of some commentary that we feel over my short time here, there’s been some real personal attacks on the club, vindictive attacks that we feel that have been unwarranted,’ Kangaroos general manager of football Todd Viney said on Wednesday.
‘We believe some of the commentary from Kane, particularly early this week with a couple of our players, Jy Simpkin and Harry Sheezel, overstepped the line – [it] was inappropriate, targeted, vindictive bullying behaviour that we as a club won’t stand for.
‘We’re open to balanced critique of our performances but when it starts to overstep the line and become personal it’s my responsibility and the club’s responsibility to look after our people.
North Melbourne AFL star Harry Sheezel (pictured with partner Mischa Rajch) has been slammed on TV by Seven commentator Kane Cornes
Cornes’s remarks about Sheezel have been branded ‘vindictive’ and ‘bullying’ by the Kangaroos, with his fellow commentators including Luke Hodge (pictured right with Cornes) also saying he crossed a line
Sheezel (pictured playing for North this year) is rated one of the best young talents in the game
‘Until we feel like there’s a more respectful conversation and dialogue from Kane around our people and club we won’t be engaging with him on any of his media channels.’
Viney added that he’s ‘not holding my breath on an apology’ from Cornes.
The former Port Adelaide star has used his platform on Channel Seven to blast Sheezel for failing to have a big impact in games as the Roos sit second-last on the latter with just one win from seven matches so far this season.
Cornes took North’s best player to task for getting a lot of possessions during matches, but failing to turn those into scoring chances, dubbing his style of play ‘Sheezy Ball’ in remarks his Seven co-commentators and fellow footy great Luke Hodge and Dale Thomas hit back at recently.
Hodge pointed out that North’s struggles to score have more to do with the lack of talent in their forward line, which leaves the team unable to capitalise on the opportunities Sheezel creates.
‘What you were saying last night was probably a bit harsh and it was more of a headline grab,’ Hodge said on Seven’s The Agenda Setters.
‘It wasn’t a bit harsh, it was ridiculous, it was over the top,’ Thomas added.
Cornes responded to the ban by criticising the club for failing to make the most of Sheezel’s talents.
Due to his remarks about Sheezel (pictured playing last weekend), Cornes is now banned from any media opportunities with the club
‘What are my thoughts? Banned from the North Melbourne rooms because I had some comments on one of their gun players, Harry Sheezel, who I really rate,’ he said on Instagram.
‘They’re not using him in the right way and I feel like he’s stat-padding and getting his possessions in non-damaging areas, and North Melbourne have to challenge him to win his footy in better spots and be more impactful.
‘It’s strange that Clarko [Clarkson], with all his experience, wasn’t able to answer some of those questions.’
St Kilda great turned Seven commentator Nick Riewoldt also lashed out at Cornes over his take on the star.
‘You’re being way too harsh,’ he said on Seven.
‘Branding it and calling it Sheezy Ball? Come on, man. He’s the sort of bloke that if he had’ve walked in the door at Port Adelaide you would have loved the way he goes about it and how professional he is.’
