Dale Thomas and Kane Cornes are set to reunite on Channel 7 next season, but it seems the former AFL stars aren’t really in love with each other, as their heated feud has flared up again.
The football analysts have shared differing opinions in the past, and Cornes will be leaving Channel Nine later this year.
Their feud began last year when Port Adelaide’s championship winner slammed the former Collingwood star, calling him “lazy”.
This came after Thomas had reacted strongly to Richmond midfielder Tim Taranto, claiming he had ‘no influence on games’ and was not in the ‘top 150 players in the game at the moment’. Cornes then claimed his Channel 7 colleague had copied his analysis.
The relationship between the two appears to have been cool since then, as Thomas revealed on Wednesday that he fiercely attacked Cornes.
During the Walk With Me Grand Final Lunch for Corey McKernan’s non-profit organization, Thomas again took aim at his interviewee Cornes, while discussing his move to Channel 7.
“Kane’s fine, I understand the role he plays in the media,” said Thomas, speaking alongside Channel 7 presenter Jason Richardson and Triple M’s Nathan Brown. “I’m going to have to work with him, so I’m going to put aside the fact that he’s a complete f***kwit and try to get on with it.”
He caused a stir among the crowd after this remark and would make a similar claim the following day at ‘The Great Grand Final Lunch’ at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne, this time calling the former Port Adelaide star a ‘f***head’.
Kane Cornes (pictured) will star alongside Dale Thomas on Channel 7 next season, but it appears there’s no love lost between the former AFL stars
Thomas (left) and the former Port Adelaide star have had a chilly relationship for some time
Last year, Cornes took a thinly veiled dig at the former Carlton and Collingwood player by suggesting he had adopted the opinions of other pundits.
“I’m tired of some members of the AFL media being lazy people, I’m tired of AFL figures having opinions based on other AFL figures,” Cornes said.
‘For people like Daisy Thomas and (former Collingwood coach) Tony Shaw, who work part-time and don’t get to appear on the radio much, it’s embarrassing that their big opinions this week are something I said on SEN SA 12 months ago. Get up early, watch the games, work hard and stop having opinions that depend on the opinions of others.’
Thomas hit out at Cornes, saying, “For (Kane Cornes) to say, ‘I’m tired of these media types having opinions about other media types’ opinions,’ what’s going through his mind right now?”
It comes after the pair exchanged venomous comments last week after Cornes suggested Power midfielder Zak Butters was “soft” after being substituted at half-time with a rib injury during their opening round finals defeat to Geelong.
Cornes had suggested that Butters was not interested, saying: ‘I think it’s a real challenge for Butters now – a lot of players struggle at this time of year. I think he had to get through that – his team needed him.’
The Channel Nine analyst was criticised for the comments, with Thomas slamming his analysis on Triple M’s Midweek Rub.
Thomas has lashed out at Cornes this week, calling him a “f***wit” when he spoke about working with the Channel Nine analyst
Cornes had previously claimed that Thomas was ‘lazy’ and had copied his analysis
Thomas has meanwhile criticised his opponent for comments he made about Zak Butters’ injury
“If (Cornes) were sitting across from me at any given moment, behind the microphone or in the pub, I would tell him this is the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a long time,” Thomas told the radio station.
He later added in an interview with News Corp: “There are odd moments when I agree with Kane, but I’ve always taken the position that I want to support the players and not lose sight of how difficult it is to play,” Thomas said.
All eyes will be on the pair when they reunite for Channel 7’s AFL coverage next season.
Thomas sent Cornes a message via social media outlining the terms he would accept for a cessation of hostilities.
“Dear Mr. Volcano, To get you started, I have made a list of things I accept as an ‘olive branch’ or ‘fencer,’” he said on social media.
‘Box of Carlton Draught Stubbies, Cadbury chocolates, alarm clock (for getting up early), Bellroy notebook, list of controversial conversation starters, a handwritten 200 word note about my work ethic, a photo of you in a fire suit, a Prison Bar Port Jumper, a Strava membership and an Insta follow form so I can tag you (see next slide).
‘Kind regards, the 7-days-a-week “part-timer”.’