Kane Cornes and Western Bulldogs ‘agree' on team defence issues after Brisbane defeat

7NEWS

7 days ago

Kane Cornes, one of the Western Bulldogs' biggest critics in recent years, has lauded the club's acknowledgement that their team defence is letting them down.
The Bulldogs sit ninth on the AFL ladder and are effectively two wins outside the eight — provided, as expected, that Gold Coast beat the injury-ravaged Bombers in their rescheduled make-up game after Round 24 — after going down to premiership contenders Brisbane last Friday night.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Kane Cornes and Western Bulldogs 'agree' on team defence struggles.
The Dogs were opened up by the kick-happy Lions who, true to their well-documented modus operandi, dominated uncontested possession and uncontested marks.
Speaking after the game, both coach Luke Beveridge and star midfielder Tom Liberatore admitted team defence was their shortfall.
'That'll be the one that stands out for us with our team defence — we need to do it better,' Beveridge told reporters after Friday night's clash.
'It's just too hard to circumvent those scoring opportunities once they go into the middle, it just opens everything up.'
In similar language, Liberatore added: 'Just more team defence. Our team defence wasn't really good enough for what they try and do and how they move the ball.'
Cornes was earlier this year banned from the Bulldogs' changerooms and has a frosty, if at all existent, relationship with Beveridge due to his persistent criticism of the club.
The pair exchanged words in a heated moment before the Bulldogs' Round 11 clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
But Cornes is now singing the praises of Beveridge for finally recognising the glaring issue.
'A gallant effort by the Dogs, but the (lack of) team defence was the concession there from Luke Beveridge and also Libba,' Craig Hutchison said on The Agenda Setters on Monday night.
'It's been a claim they've been defending hard against your criticism all year, Kane, so do you feel a little bit vindicated that they're now conceding that's an issue in their game.'
Cornes responded: 'I'm thrilled that we agree, that's the main point there.
'So, to hear Luke Beveridge and Libba say that and acknowledge that's been a big issue, to be on the same page now, is awesome.
'It's sort of what I've been saying for three years; they've pushed back pretty hard on that, they've got pretty nasty at times when (they've) been asked about that question.
'I think the footy industry is now clearly acknowledging what I've been saying for three years.'
Asked by Caroline Wilson if the Dogs had 'paid enough attention to it' up until this point, Cornes was emphatic.
'Well, no! These numbers have been the mainstay of their problems for every year other than the years they've played in the grand finals and won the premiership under Luke Beveridge and he's refused to acknowledge it, he's got quite nasty about it,' he said.
'But I'm just sitting here and relaxed that we're now on the same page.'