Port Adelaide Great Ken Cornes said he was not impressed by Ascendon’s improved aggression against Richmond after a week of intense media scrutiny.
The bombers were widely criticized by club legend Matthew Lloyd after rider midfielder Dylan Schill was ridiculed by Swan star Luke Parker.
Ascendon trailed by 32 points near Richmond in a fiery dreamtime in the ‘G’ clash, sparking several spotfires throughout the match.
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Ascendon, who lost to Richmond, lost 2–8 in 10 rounds on the 16th AFL ladder, and Cornes wondered why the bombers took the blast from Lloyd to inspire more fighting.
“Dyson Happel can say they’re not going to respond, they’ve done well,” he told Nine’s. AFL Sunday Footy Show.
“Never let players tell you they don’t listen to the media because it’s entirely behind the media speculation that they made it.
“Let’s see if they do it next Sunday at the Adelaide Cemetery against Port Adelaide.
“I think it’s just a little embarrassing to come out and react to the pure media (pressure).
“This is Round 10, why was anyone in the media taken to highlight an issue to get them to respond?”
Despite Cornes’ criticism, Lloyd himself was impressed by his team’s response to his brutal assessment.
“It’s better than what I saw last week,” he said AFL Sunday Footy Show.
“They were a much better team yesterday than last week, and I want to see it better than the previous week.
“I spoke passionately about not being afraid and walked away like Dylan Schill, that they could not have it anymore.
“I think it was a starting point. You’re right, why, let’s see what happens next week, not just with the reflection, how they attack the ball.
Matthew Lloyd’s plea for the bombers to be harsh
“I thought their pressure was much better. You have to start somewhere and there was a little tick last night.”
However, Cornes’ criticism was not well received Sunday footy show Host Tony Jones, who suggested that the bombers were in a losing position.
“They can’t win, why!” Jones said.
“So if they hadn’t done it you would have fired them. Now they have done it and you say it’s embarrassing.
“Come on guys, go back a little bit because if they do they’re cursed and if they don’t they’re cursed.”
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