Kane Cornes has publicly apologised to four AFL umpires following controversial remarks he made during a Channel Seven broadcast. The former Port Adelaide player, along with Luke Hodge and Dale Thomas, faced potential legal action due to their critical comments regarding match officials—Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer, Justin Power, and Martin Rodger—related to the concussion incident involving Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz.
Earlier this week, Cornes expressed his discontent over the officiating during a match between Fremantle and Collingwood on SEN radio, suggesting that the umpires had misled the AFL about their observations during the incident. However, after further reflection and the release of additional statements from the AFL, Cornes acknowledged that his claims were unfounded.
In a subsequent statement, Cornes said, “I withdraw my false allegations and apologise unreservedly to Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer, Justin Power, and Martin Rodger. I understand that the umpires accurately relayed their observations to the AFL.” This apology came after Tom Morris from Nine revealed that Cornes would make amends to the umpires via SEN.
Umpires association leader Rob Kerr addressed the situation, expressing the umpires’ dissatisfaction with the accusations made against them. He emphasized that allegations of deceit and misleading the AFL could damage the officials’ integrity and professional reputation. Kerr asserted that such comments crossed a line and highlighted the importance of maintaining respect for the umpires’ roles.
It is anticipated that Cornes, Hodge, and Thomas will further discuss this issue during a segment on Channel Seven, underlining the ongoing dialogue surrounding player and referee interactions in the AFL.