Kane Cornes has hit back after he was given a swift clip on Saturday by Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.
Hardwick took aim at his former premiership teammate during his post-match press conference after his side cruised to a 46-point win against the Eagles at the MCG.
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The Tigers coach took issue with Cornes after the former Power player turned media personality suggested Richmond star Tim Taranto “didn’t influence games” and wasn’t in the top 150 players in the game.
It’s not the first time he has hit out at the midfielder, labelling the decision by the club to sign him and Jacob Hopper as “a horrific deal”.
Hardwick took aim at Cornes after Taranto produced his best outing for the Tigers on Saturday
“I know Kane really well and you guys know how the media work,” Hardwick said.
“He doesn’t generally believe that comment, but what he does is he says it to get clicks. That’s how the media works. Surprise.
“He (Taranto) is an outstanding player. Those two boys that we brought in (Jacob) Hopper and Taranto, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we need to be – or more importantly we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we want to be – without those two boys. They’ve been wonderful for our footy club.
“They’re starting to learn what it is to be a Richmond person and starting to play like Richmond men, which is really important. So I thought those two boys were very, very good today and will continue to be for a long period of time.”
Cornes returned fire on Sunday morning as he emphatically rejected the suggestion floated by Hardwick.
“I’ve never said anything for the sake of it, I’ve never said anything to get a click,” Cornes said.
“I don’t get paid per click, I couldn’t care less if you click on it or not.
“I was a little bit surprised because I spoke to him yesterday (Saturday) morning and we had that discussion. He rang me. I was surprised after the game he went public with that. But we had a good discussion.
“I said to him it was part of an extended chat on a radio show on a Friday morning that would have lasted five minutes. If you go and read the one headline which he would have done, and not listened to the whole conversation in its full context, then yes you could say that was said for clicks.
“One of his great strengths is his loyalty and support for his players, which we’ve seen for a number of years, and I admire that about him.
“It was a good discussion. We had a good chat, in the end we chatted about our families … he is a premiership teammate, he was one of my favourite teammates, I’ve got so much respect for him.
“I was just surprised it’s blown up like this after the conversation we had.”
Cornes then doubled down on his remarks regarding Taranto, saying the midfielder is the best player in what is currently a bad team.
“It depends which way you look at it … he played against a side that wasn’t that strong,” he said of the Eagles.
“He’s playing a role for them. If I’d flipped that and said he is in the top 15 to 20 per cent of players in the game, is that less provocative? Because that’s what it is.
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“Top 150 … you are in the top echelon of players in the game.
“I don’t think he hurts you. They are a side that’s bottom four at the moment, so it’s not that difficult to be their best player.
“If you’re not getting 30 you’re probably not that deserving of your spot in there. I just think his ball use has hurt him.”
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