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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Thrown to the wolves: Cornes questions Ross Lyon’s “bizarre” decision
SEN • July 23rd, 2025 11:03 am
Kane Cornes has labelled Ross Lyon’s decision to play Alix Tauru on Jeremy Cameron as “bizarre”.
The 18-year-old St Kilda defender, in just his fifth AFL game, was tasked with the monumental job of playing on the Geelong superstar at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.
Cameron finished the day with five goals from 14 disposals in his side’s 31-point win over the Saints.
The tough matchup for the 2024 draftee came just a week after Saints coach Lyon said the following: “Young Tauru, he’s had no coaching, he’s had no pre-season, he’s played three games.
“He’s competing really well, but he’s an under-18 kid playing (AFL). Teams are going after him, he’s doing really well, but there’s stuff we’ll be able to fix in time.”
With those comments in mind, Cornes could not believe just a week later that Lyon would be sending the inexperienced youngster to a four-time All-Australian who has kicked over 700 career goals.
“No coaching, no pre-season, three games. So what are we going to do? We’re going to put him on the hottest forward in the game the following week,” Cornes said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.
“Can you believe that? I couldn’t believe it!
“You’ve got Callum Wilkie there who could play this role. Put Tauru on (Mark) Blicavs. Do anything other than get him on Jeremy Cameron.
“I thought it was a bizarre decision a week after you’d made those comments. Essentially saying he’s pretty much an under-18 kid that he’s so raw and has so much to work on his game.
“Thrown him to the wolves. That was a strange one for me, that matchup.”
Luke Hodge, while somewhat agreeing with Cornes, did see it as a valuable learning experience for the developing Tauru.
“One thing is you’re going to learn from your experiences,” said Hodge.
“Five games of experience versus 706 goals. That’s a massive learning curve.
“As a young kid coming in, and because of his athleticism, I’d probably chuck him on Blicavs because Blicavs can get lost. Tauru can use his athleticism, Blicavs has only kicked 75 goals because he doesn’t have experience as a forward. Have that as the matchup, let the young kid go and play to his strengths.
“But I tell you what, if you’re going to learn as a defender you’re going to learn a lot from playing on Jezza Cameron. He taught him a few lessons there.”
That is exactly what Lyon said after the Cats loss.
“You can't buy that experience... he'll learn from one of the best players in Australia,” said Lyon.
