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Cornes responds to North's bullying claims
SEN • April 30th, 2025 2:05 pm
Kane Cornes has responded to accusations of "vindictive bullying behaviour" by North Melbourne's Todd Viney, refusing to back down on his criticism of Harry Sheezel.
Viney unleashed on Cornes for comments he made about the 20-year-old taking “cheap possessions” and “stat-padding”.
“I’m actually a little bit concerned. I’ve spoken about this probably for the last month with Harry Sheezel,” he said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.
“So let’s look at some of the numbers in terms of his ball-winning ability. He’s fourth in the comp for disposals, yet he’s 17th for for score involvements. ‘Sheezey ball’ is what I’m calling it.
“Forget stat-padding. He is getting ‘the Sheezeys.’ He is not on Arden St, he is on Sheezey St.”
Cornes also took aim at Roos captain Jy Simpkin in the wake of the club's narrow loss to Port Adelaide on the weekend.
Asked about Cornes’ take on his players, Viney did not hold back.
“We understand the role of the media … but we believe some of the commentary from Kane and particularly earlier this week with a couple of our players in Jy Simpkin and Sheezel overstepped the line, was inappropriate, targeted, vindictive, bullying behaviour that we as a club won’t stand for,” said Viney.
“We hope for 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.”
CORNES RESPONDS
Viney also revealed that the club has rejected a request from Channel 7 for Cornes and Luke Hodge to conduct an interview with Alastair Clarkson.
“We received a request from Channel 7, for Kane Cornes and Luke Hodge to come and do an interview with our coach,” Viney said.
“But on the back of some commentary that we feel has been … over two and a half years there’s been some personal attacks on the club and vindictive attacks that we feel have been unwarranted.
“Therefore Channel 7, Luke Hodge and whoever else they’d like to present to have the conversation with Clarko, it’s still open, but until we start hearing some more respectful dialogue from Kane around our people and our club, we won’t be engaging with him on any of his media channels.”
Taking to social media in the wake of the press conference, Cornes said: "I got a call from my producer at Channel 7 and we had organised an interview with Clarko in the rooms.
"Banned from the north Melbourne rooms because I had some comments about one of their gun players, Harry Sheezel who I really rate.
"I just don’t think theyre using him in the right way and that he’s stat padding. North Melbourne really need to challenge him to be more impactful.
"So its strange that Clarko with all his experience wasn’t able to answer some of these questions as well as other areas at the club that I've been strong on.
"But banned from the North Melbourne rooms? Lets see if North can chalk up their second win of the year."
