Kane Cornes has taken offence at suggestions he apparently wants to “revolutionise” the All-Australian selection process.
The Port Adelaide champion has this year joined the selection panel, stepping in for Matthew Richardson and Warren Tredrea who have moved aside.
Cornes says he is “passionate about picking players in the positions they’ve played” and is hoping to bring that mindset with him to the selection of the All-Australian side.
His comments were met with derision on Sportsday, with broadcaster Shane McInness suggesting he wants to transform the way selection is done, while Richmond great Richardson suggested it’s a trickier role than many believe.
Richardson said: “I would say it’s very easy when you’re selecting your own team.
“But when you’ve got to go in as a panel and select the 22, you’re not going to get your 22 in.
“So, it’s a tougher job than you may think.”
McInness added: “Kane has already stated, unequivocally, that he is going to revolutionise the selection of the All-Australian team by actually having wingmen on the wing. That is his modus operandi in the new role.”
Richardson added: “It’s a big point of contention isn’t it, having wingmen on the wings instead of other on-ballers on the wings.
“That’s a good philosophy of Kane’s. I’ll be interested to see how that goes. I agree with what he’s saying.
“It’s a tough job, you’re trying to fit probably 30 to 32 players who deserve to be in the 22. You just can’t do it, it’s a tough gig.”
On SEN SA Breakfast, Cornes returned serve at the comments made by McInness, distancing himself from any such talk of revolutionising the All-Australian selection process.
“He’s completely wrong and I actually take offence at what he said,” Cornes said.
“He was being a smart arse and never once did I say I’m going to revolutionise the selection process of the All-Australian team.
“He has made that up. I never said that.
“I never once said I’m going to revolutionise the selection process. To think I would have that arrogance, with the names like Gillon McLachlan, Nick Riewoldt, Kevin Bartlett and all the others that sit on that, to walk in and say, ‘Nah guys, the way you’ve done it is wrong, here I am, I’m the saviour, I’m going to revolutionise it’.
“For Shane to say that was a disgrace. I’ve text him this morning and he’s apologised for it, but he’s being a smart alec, he’s trying to get his one or two minutes of fame.
“It’s a disgraceful comment. Thankfully he has apologised since. I sent him a message on Facebook and credit to him, he got back and apologised so I appreciated that.
“I never said I was going to revolutionise it, I never said it was going to be easy. In fact I’ve never been overly critical of the All-Australian teams, because I know how hard it is to pick the side.”
Cornes said he was happy to cop backlash for things he does say, but is not prepared to cop it for things he did not say.
Listen below: