Updated ,first published
Leading football media figure Kane Cornes has no regrets about relinquishing his role as an AFL All-Australian selector to maintain his commercial arrangement with sports betting giant Sportsbet.
The day after it emerged that Sportsbet had parted with one of its employees, experienced AFL field umpire Nick Foot, 300-gamer and former premiership player Cornes said continuing his arrangements with the betting company was important to him.
Sportsbet confirmed it will no longer feature any sporting administrators or officials on their platforms “to ensure clear separation from their official roles”.
Cornes, a Seven commentator and former columnist with The Age, said while he valued his position on the All-Australian selection panel, Sportsbet “are a major partner of everything I do”.
“Every show that I’m on, Sportsbet thankfully are a major partner [of] – Fireball on the radio [SEN], the AFL show I do on afl.com,” said Cornes on The Agenda Setters, where he appears as regular panelist.
“Clearly, they’re a big part of everything that we do, and everything that I do. And I do want to support them.
“And I completely understand their point of view.”
Cornes said he could see there was a clear conflict of interest in working for both a betting agency and the AFL.
“Now …. that they made that stance, and they changed their policy, there was no other option but to take the action that [I] did,” Cornes said.
“I’ve spoken to the AFL. They were incredibly supportive. I just thanked them for the opportunity. It was brilliant.
“I loved being in the All-Australian [selection] room.”
Cornes was also on the judging panel for the AFL’s Rising Star award.
Sportsbet said it was continuing to review its “talent arrangements”.
“We’re currently undertaking a review of all Sportsbet talent agreements and through that process we had a discussion with Kane Cornes who holds positions as an All-Australian selector and Rising Star judge,” a spokesman said.
“In appreciating and understanding the importance of the stance we have taken, Kane has made the difficult decision to step down from his positions with the AFL in those roles.
“We understand this was a significant decision for Kane to make, and we are grateful for his support of the decision we’ve made.”
Sportsbet had confirmed on that Foot, a grand final umpire who reported Port Adelaide star Zak Butters during Port Adelaide’s Gather Round loss to St Kilda at the Adelaide Oval for abusive or insulting language towards an umpire, was no longer on its books.
Foot had been a horse racing analyst with the bookmaker.
“Nick has appeared on our Get On racing coverage in a racing‑only capacity,” a Sportsbet spokesperson said.
“We thank Nick for his work and wish him well in his umpiring career.”
The umpire told 7News he was a “proud horse racing and umpiring person and continue to share a passion for both”.
“Playing a small part in the AFL is a privilege and I look forward to continuing to serve the game with professionalism in my role for years to come,” he said.
The AFL added former leading players Luke Hodge, David Mundy and Joel Selwood to the All-Australian panel this year, while Nathan Buckley, Matthew Pavlich and Josh Mahoney also left the panel.
Hodge, who has an involvement with a different bookmaker, TAB, was asked about potential of having a conflict of interest.
“I really haven’t had time to think about it,” he said on The Agenda Setters.
“It’s a hypothetical [question] which hasn’t been put towards me.”
Sicily to make trip west as Hawks recover from a feeling of ‘nothingness’
Hawthorn co-captain James Sicily will line up in Thursday night’s blockbuster against Fremantle, while star midfielder Will Day is all but back in full training in a bid to make a return mid-season.
Sicily hurt his ankle in the draw with Collingwood at the MCG last Thursday, and was switched from defence to attack to help him finish the game.
He trained on Tuesday, when coach Sam Mitchell confirmed he would make the trip west for a “big test we feel like we are ready for”.
“He will be fine. He will play,” Mitchell said.
Hawthorn have won only one of their past eight games against Fremantle, and have not beaten the Dockers in Perth since 2018.
Day, arguably the Hawks’ best player, required a shoulder reconstruction after he was hurt in January. He had recently resumed contact training, with a view to returning through the VFL in the next month.
Mitchell revealed Day was effectively back in full training.
“But he’s still probably three to four weeks [away],” he said.
Forward Mabior Chol (hamstring) remains a fortnight from resuming, but former Glenelg product Bodie Ryan, a versatile defender, will debut.
Thursday’s clash at Optus Stadium shapes as the game of the round, for it pits second (Dockers) on the ladder against third (Hawks) in what could be a precursor to September.
The Dockers have won seven straight, their only loss this season coming against Geelong in round one.
“I feel like we have pretty good availability. We are in reasonable form. They are, obviously, the form team of the competition, [winnning] seven on the bounce,” Mitchell said.
“I went and watched their game last week. They probably said they weren’t at their best, but we still got the job done.”
Mitchell said dynamic utility Josh Weddle had taken a hit with his confidence in front of goal, but was confident that would change. Weddle has booted 4.11 this season.
“He’s had a lot of shots on goal this year. He just hasn’t been able to quite nail them … but ‘Wedds’ is a nice kick. So, when you are technically sound, it’s something that will turn around sooner rather than later,” Mitchell said.
Opponents have increasingly looked to avoid kicking long into their own forward line in a bid to hinder the aerial skills of Sicily and his fellow defenders Tom Barrass and Josh Battle. The Magpies even had Steele Sidebottom play as a defensive forward on Sicily in the first half last week in a bid to negate his ability to spark a counter-attack.
Mitchell said the Dockers would have a choice to make – back their own system, or alter their method.
“We know that our intercepting defenders are one of our strengths and weapons, and if teams want to kick long to them, then we will back them in,” Mitchell said.
“But, if they don’t, it’s not like we can’t win.”
Mitchell said there was a feeling of “nothingness” after last Thursday’s draw when the Hawks booted a wasteful 13.15 (93), while the efficient Magpies booted 15.3 (93), the draw certified after Dylan Moore’s post-siren goal.
The Hawks had a whopping 34 more inside 50s – the largest inside-50 advantage any team has had without winning since 2022.
“We need to work on our front-half method a bit more, but we have been first or second [for] scores per entry, goals per entry would be a bit nicer,” Mitchell said.
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.