Former Carlton and Collingwood star Dale Thomas has lashed back at Port Adelaide Hall of Famer Kane Cornes, who labelled him “lazy” and said he only worked “part-time”.
Thomas was among a host of media figures who ripped Cornes over his remark on SEN radio that Richmond midfielder Tim Taranto did not “influence games” and wouldn’t be “in the top 150 players in the game right now”.
Cornes fired back on Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday.
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“I’m sick of some lazy members of the AFL media, I’m sick of AFL figures having opinions off the back of other AFL figures,” Cornes said.
“For the likes of Daisy Thomas and (former Collingwood coach) Tony Shaw, who work part-time and they don’t have to do a lot of on-air time, for their big opinions this week to be something I said 12 months ago on SEN SA is embarrassing.
“Get up early, watch the games, work hard and stop having opinions off other people’s opinions.
“If I employed these people, I’d want my money back.”
Thomas hit back at Cornes on Triple M radio on Wednesday.
“I questioned his comments, and it may have been 12 months ago, but they’re still factually, statistically, completely incorrect,” Thomas said.
“We got asked about them by (journalist Jay Clark) on Sunday, got asked about them on Monday, so I don’t think he needs to flatter himself with the fact that I’m just purely sifting through his crap and what he’s saying to have a hot take.
“It wasn’t a hot take; it was purely just a discussion in and around saying that Tim Taranto isn’t in the top 150 players is completely, factually and statistically incorrect.
“For (Cornes) to come out and say, ‘I’m sick of these media types having opinions on other media types’ opinions’ — what is going through his brain at the moment?
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“That is the entire industry, that’s a space that he lives in probably more so than any of us.”
Thomas also accused Cornes of no longer being willing to admit he was in the wrong.
“The issue I have with Kane — and it wasn’t always because I think there was a time when he’d make a big statement and if he was wrong he’d happily put his hand up and fall in behind and say, ‘Every now and then I get it wrong and I’m happy to continue with it’,” Thomas said.
“At the moment, his lack of want to put his hand up and admit that he’s got things wrong — this is clearly one of those situations.
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“He fell in behind the (Collingwood youngster) Jack Ginnivan pile-on, he started the one with (former No.1 draft pick) Jason Horne-Francis and wouldn’t put his hand up and say he was any part of that.
“The only thing this does to Kane Cornes is start to damage what people think of his credibility and his statements.”
Thomas also took exception to Cornes branding him a “part-time” member of the media.
“That’s factually incorrect,” Thomas said.
“‘I don’t watch enough football’ — well he obviously has no idea how I prepare for my weekends of football because I watch so much more football than he’d ever cast an eye on.”
Taranto moved from Greater Western Sydney to Richmond in the 2022 trade period on a seven-year deal, making the switch from the Giants with Jacob Hopper.
Taranto was brilliant in Richmond’s clash with West Coast on Saturday, raking in 30 possessions (20 contested) and two goals.
The 25-year-old’s performance in the Tigers’ 46-point win earned him seven AFL Coaches Association’s champion player votes.
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