MITCHELL JOHNSON: Kanes Cornes has not bullied Harry Sheezel by criticising the North Melbourne star

I don’t find myself watching too many of the analysis shows for any sport, to be honest, although there are some experts who are good to listen to.

I prefer to just watch a game live, whether that be cricket or AFL, and just enjoy it.

But it’s been impossible to miss the Kane Cornes saga after the former Port Adelaide midfielder and now Channel 7 analyst was banned from the North Melbourne rooms on Thursday night.

I often hear Cornes ruffling a few feathers as he is employed to use his voice as an ex-player. Whether we like it or not, his opinion and commentary is just that — his own.

While some say it’s over the top and clickbait, and that could be true, it also seems Cornes generally believes in what he says. He doesn’t softball or beat around the bush when giving his assessments.

Do I think media personalities, whether in print or on TV or radio, can get it wrong? Yes, they do. But I also believe they get it right.

Their role is to analyse the performance of teams and athletes, irrespective of whether those involved agree or disagree. Not all assessments will be favourable and nor should they be.

This week’s blow-up over his criticism of Harry Sheezel and Jy Simpkin in particular obviously hit a nerve at the Kangaroos and they decided to make a point.

It will be interesting to see what happens moving forward in the AFL landscape and if more media personalities are banished by teams in the future.

Maybe it was the tone delivered by Cornes on his program The Agenda Setters that has irritated North Melbourne and got under their skin, as he labelled Sheezel’s “easy” possessions as “Sheezies”.

But if Cornes is guilty of going a bit over the top at times then it’s hard to think that the Kangaroos weren’t guilty of the same with their language in response. Targeted, vindictive bullying? Personal attacks?

I’m not a fan of shock jock remarks, but if a person can analyse their observations and back up what they are saying with examples and statistics, I have no issues with that.

Did Cornes overstep his bounds? North Melbourne seem to think so, but I imagine Cornes’ employer would disagree.

We need to hear different opinions. It would be a pretty boring world if all we heard were a chorus of safe comments.

Adding to the uproar is that Cornes’ remarks about Sheezel could probably have applied to several players in the AFL, but he has often made pointed comments about North over the years as they have struggled near the foot of the ladder.

I understand both sides of the debate, but North Melbourne could have benefited from addressing the comments directly rather than playing the man.

All the Cornes ban has done is bring even more attention to the situation and onto the Roos’ poor performances, ultimately.

In my cricket playing days, I had my fair share of run-ins with the media and former players in commentary roles.

Someone will always have their opinion about your performances, right or wrong. It’s how you deal with it as a team and individual.

I know that if I read something I didn’t like it would put me in a bad mood. Sometimes I would use what they said to my advantage.

In the end, it didn’t matter whether what was being said was true or not; the thing that mattered was what was going on in your mind.

Now sitting back as a retired player who has been employed to give opinion in print and on radio, I can reflect on my playing days through a new lens.

I’ve given some strong opinions and received my fair share of back lash at times over some of my columns as an ex-cricketer. And again, I can see both sides.

If criticism becomes personal and not about the athletes’ performances, then that becomes a problem, and I can understand that. But if it’s based on performances and analysed in an unbiased way, then that is fair, right?

You can’t get personal, and it should never get personal. I’ve learned that myself. I can honestly say that when I comment, write, or have an opinion, I do try my best to give an unbiased view.

I will try to be positive in most situations, trying to find the positive first or at least backing up any criticism with reasons. But we need ex-players and commentators to be able to speak up on issues if required — not all have the same views or opinions.

Reflecting on my playing days and my own dislike for certain commentators or past players who criticised me, in some of those moments they were probably warranted and in some they weren’t.

But what I am sure of when I look back on those moments is that I could have dealt with public criticism much better than I did.