Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes says umpires shouldn’t be blamed for Essendon’s loss to Collingwood on the weekend.
The Bombers lost the free kick count by 10 against the Pies, after losing it by the same number against North Melbourne last week, while they were -16 in Perth v the Eagles in Round 14.
It has caused Essendon coach John Worsfold to seek a meeting with umpires’ boss Hayden Kennedy to provide clarity on the lopsided free kick counts.
While acknowledging the umpiring wasn’t great in the Dons versus Magpies clash, Cornes doesn’t buy the theory that umpires cost Worsfold’s men the game.
“I’m as critical on umpiring as anyone but I don’t like blaming umpires for a loss,” he told SEN Mornings.
“Let’s look at what cost Essendon the game before the umpires. Look at Collingwood and the players that stood up in the big moments, look at the stars that rose.
“Look at Jordan De Goey, look at Scott Pendlebury, look at Brodie Grundy. Where was the response from the Essendon players?
“Before you point the finger at umpires for that loss, take a look at what your side did.
“Yes, umpiring may have played a small part in that, but look, let’s criticise umpires and see if we can come up with a better solution, but let’s not blame losses on umpires.”