Kane Cornes has labelled Luke Beveridge’s decision to move his star midfielder Marcus Bontempelli into the ruck as one of the worst coaching tactics he’s seen this year.
The Bulldogs were behind in their elimination final clash against GWS in the second quarter when Beveridge sent Bontempelli into the ruck to clash with Shane Mumford.
Cornes was concerned about the toll it would’ve taken on Bontempelli’s body, but was more so confused by Beveridge’s decision to put him there in the first place.
"It was one of the worst coaching tactics I've seen this year."
— Sunday Footy Show (@SunFootyShow) September 8, 2019
Vol-Kane-O has UNLEASHED on one particular AFL coach.#9AFLSFS pic.twitter.com/gWBBOn6GlY
“I think it was just one of the worst coaching tactics I’ve ever seen this year,” Cornes told Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show.
“He (Bontempelli) was beaten by (Matt) de Boer early so Luke Beveridge’s tactic was to put Bontempelli into the ruck. I haven’t seen anything like this.
“He’s your best player, he’s your number one asset, and you’ve got him going up against a 110 kilogram beast that is Shane Mumford.
“We’ve all been in a wrestle, we know how much that takes out of you. That’s what he (Beveridge) was asking Bontempelli to do.
“Then it was (Jackson) Macrae, then it was (Josh) Dunkley. If you’re not confident in your second ruck, how about you play (Jackson) Trengove who’s sitting in the VFL.
“It was one of the worst coaching decisions and tactics I’ve ever seen this year.”
The Bulldogs were knocked out of the finals race by the Giants to the tune of 58 points at GIANTS Stadium yesterday.
The Giants will now face the Brisbane Lions in a do-or-die Semi-Final at the Gabba on Saturday night.