Kane Cornes has conceded there was no other option but to step down from the AFL All Australian selection panel following a policy change by Sportsbet. The bookmaker decided to no longer employ officials from any sporting code after the controversy involving AFL umpire Nick Foot.
Cornes explains his decision
Cornes had served on the All Australian selection panel, which also votes on the Rising Star award, since 2022. Speaking on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters, he said he could have walked away from his Sportsbet partnership but chose to honour his contract with the company.
"I would have been breaking a contract that I've got that's in place," Cornes said. "Clearly don't have the same contract at the AFL. I really enjoy the work at Sportsbet. I love the show that we're on with Kate McCarthy and Josh Jenkins and Jase Richardson, which airs on Channel 7. Sportsbet are a major partner of everything I do. So every show that I'm on, Sportsbet are a major partner."
Conflict of interest acknowledged
When asked by Caroline Wilson if he believed there was a conflict of interest, Cornes admitted: "Yeah, I do." He added: "Well now that the Nick Foot situation has happened and (Sportsbet) made that stance and they changed their policy, there was no other option but to take the action that they did."
Cornes emphasised that the decision was Sportsbet's choice and that the AFL had no objections to its officials being linked to betting companies. Foot had been consistently backed by the AFL to continue working with Sportsbet as a horse racing analyst.
"I've spoken to the AFL, they were incredibly supportive," Cornes said. "I just thank them for the opportunity, it was brilliant. I loved being in the All Australian (selection) team."
Hodge's position questioned
Fellow panellist Luke Hodge joined the All Australian panel this year and also has a deal with TAB. Wilson asked Hodge whether he would step down if the AFL, rather than the bookmakers, implemented a no-conflicts policy.
"I haven't really had time to think about it. It's a hypothetical which hasn't been put towards me," Hodge said. "If that becomes the case, I'll have a think and give an answer to them. But as I said, I only just heard of what Kane had to stand down and consider. I joined it to sit beside him and argue who should be in the team and who shouldn't. So I guess I'll have to argue with someone else."
Cornes replied: "You can handle the complaints from here on in, Hodgey." Hodge could face another potential conflict as a Rising Star voter when his highly rated son Cooper is drafted to the AFL.
