Bailey Smith’s highly anticipated match against his former team took an unexpected turn before the game even began, as tensions flared between Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and commentator Kane Cornes. The two have a well-documented strained relationship, which became evident during their pre-match encounter on the boundary line prior to the Thursday night AFL clash at Kardinia Park.
As Beveridge was making his way off the field, he had a brief exchange of words with Cornes. Footage from the scene captures Beveridge initially passing by but then turning back for a more extended interaction with Cornes, further escalating the tension. The situation culminated in a Bulldogs staff member stepping in to address Cornes after the initial exchange. Cornes later described the incident on Channel 7, referring to it as an “awkward situation” but noted it was not unusual for coaches to be protective of their players, especially ahead of a significant match.
Cornes acknowledged the strained relations, admitting that his standing with the Bulldogs is not strong, which is compounded by his current ban from the club’s changerooms following previous criticisms of both Beveridge and the team. Despite these tensions, the focus shifted back to the game as Cats forward Jeremy Cameron kicked the opening goal, catching the Bulldogs off-guard. Ed Richards quickly retaliated for the Bulldogs, scoring a goal of his own. Meanwhile, Smith’s return was met with a mixed response from the crowd, receiving a blend of boos and cheers.
In conclusion, while the on-field action during the game will be closely watched, it’s clear that the pre-match antics between Beveridge and Cornes have added an extra layer of drama to what was already anticipated to be an exciting matchup.