AFL GWS Giants v Collingwood Magpies: Kane Cornes says Pies ageing list is an issue but Dan Houston is a star
Kane Cornes is never short of an opinion and promises to deliver the same uncompromising views on all things AFL when Channel Seven’s new panel show Agenda Setters debuts on Monday night.
One of many teams he has strong view on is Collingwood and ahead of today’s opening match against GWS Pies fans won’t appreciate his view on their chances in 2025.
He told The Nightly that Collingwood’s decision to stick with its Dad’s Army, led by Scott Pendlebury, was a risky strategy.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I am not certain of it (Collingwood bouncing back), it’s a big risk that they have taken with the age of the group and the susceptibility to injury, their depth might be tested,” he said.
Cornes also re-iterated that Pies stars Jordan De Goey and skipper Darcy Moore were overrated “because their performance has not consistently been there”.
But the addition of former Port Adelaide star Dan Houston - a trade which Cornes criticised his former team Power over at the time - was a major plus for Collingwood this season.
“He’s a star player of the game, probably a top 30 player in the competition. I have loved watching him at Port Adelaide and I thought he was the best player on the trade table and will be a good addition,” he said.
The 2004 AFL flag-winner believes Gold Coast are set for a breakout year in their second season under Damian Hardwick.
“It just has to be the time now with the amount of talent they have had access to and they now have a really established coach and three-time premiership coach,” he said.
“So I think it would a real disappointment if they weren’t at least pushing for finals but I think they can go deeper than that, they have a squad that is talented enough to go deep into September.”
While at the other end of the scale Saints fans are in for another hellish year.
“The team that’s been disappointing would be St Kilda. The language that is coming out of that club and the way they have conditioned their fans,” Cornes said.
“It’s a been difficult year from what we have see from the pre-season. It’s going to be very hard for them to make any progress on where they were last year.”
Several players have been injured during the pre-season after colliding with an opponent or teammate when they were pushed in the back. Tigers No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor suffered a fractured jaw after Reuben Ginbey pushed him in a trial. No players have been sanctioned over the incidents.
Cornes said there was nothing to see here.
“I think it’s been one of the great overreactions that I’ve seen from those covering the game. I think there’s rule the umpires can adjudicate and if they think it’s a push in the back they have just got to pay it,” he said.
“In terms of suspending players for the incidents that we have seen throughout the pre-season that would be crazy to think players would miss games for the incidents that we have seen.
“I don’t think the AFL need to crack down on it. I think the umpires just need to adjudicate the rules and players will stop forcibly doing it. I would hate to seep layers missing games for incidents like that.”
One of several high-profile off-season recruits Seven has added to its star-studded AFL coverage line-up, Cornes is quite literately a human headline with his criticism of players, coaches and clubs riling some fans while others are in furious agreement with his analysis.
“I will do what I have always done, which is form opinions around the games and put together the best content we can amongst a pretty strong team,” he told The Nightly.
“Don’t expect my style to change or people to see a marked shift in the way I go about things. Seven got me for a reason and that was to be myself.”
Cornes will be joined on Agenda Setters by legendary AFL journalist Caroline Wilson and outspoken media pundit Craig Hutchinson as well as Saints great Nick Riewoldt.
Cornes, Wilson and Hutchinson work well together, having been on air for the last few years and are unafraid to disagree with each other’s take on an important issue.
“I think the whole move to Seven presents itself with some good challenges and that is one of them. I worked with Hutchy and Caro for a while and just think they are two of the most talented people that have covered the game,” he said.
“So to continue that is great and the addition of the other crew, I am really excited about that as well. It’s going to be a fresh look, everyone is really motivated and for Seven to invest this much in footy and have it on seven days a week is an incredible opportunity for all of us.”
Cornes will also host Kane’s Call exclusively on 7plus each Sunday night from 7pm to give viewers the first take on the round that was and give them a head start on the week’s analysis.
By joining the 7AFL team Cornes will also be part of the network’s match coverage on Thursday nights and will also have an opportunity to work with one of his heroes, Bruce McAvaney, on several Sunday night games.
“He’s been such a good mentor of mine ever since I was a young player. He’s always been so generous with his time when I was playing but has also been a great mentor to me in broadcasting,” he said.
“To be working alongside him will be an absolute thrill. I will be doing some Sunday night games with Bruce which I have marked down in the calendar.
“The opportunity to work with who I think is the country’s best broadcaster, and has been for long period of time, will be such a great thrill.”
Cornes said to be able to cover games live as well as dissect them during the week on the “home of footy” was “too good an opportunity not to take up”.
However, Pies fans won’t appreciate his view on their chances in 2025 after he told The Nightly that Collingwood’s decision to stick with its Dad’s Army, led by Scott Pendlebury, was a risky strategy.
