Kane Cornes isn’t a fan of Mick Malthouse’s suggestion of scrapping all points gained from round one matches, labelling it “probably the biggest joke I’ve heard”.
Malthouse said on ABC Grandstand on Saturday because of the length of time between the opening round of the season – which was played last month – and round two which will take place at some point later in the year, all teams should start with a clean state when the current season resumes again.
Cornes vehemently disagreed, saying the AFL needed every round it could get as it looks to complete a 17-game plus finals season at some point in 2020.
“This suggestion yesterday that round one should be scrapped is probably the biggest joke I’ve heard,” he said on The Sunday Footy Show.
"It is probably the biggest joke I've heard"@kanecornes has slammed Mick Malthouse's proposal to wipe the Round 1 results, and he might have a point. #9AFLSFS | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/JiByY8o5da
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) April 12, 2020
“I know we’re all struggling for content and trying to float different ideas and I love a left-field idea but Micky (Malthouse), we’re trying to squeeze in 17 rounds it’s going to be so hard, lets not take one away.
“Every team played under the same conditions you prepared a whole pre-season for it to go out there and play in round one, imagine rocking up to Ken Hinkley and saying Ken you’ve got a finals clause in your contract and if you don’t make finals you’re going to lose your job but hang on, that win you had in round one we’re taking that off you.
“What about Rory Sloane? Game number 200, he celebrated it, not that there was fans in the stands but his wife Belinda and his young son was there, hang on Rory you got to 200 now you’re back on 199.
“I just think for Micky (Malthouse) to say that was ridiculous and maybe a grasp and a stretch for some content that perhaps we didn’t need. Round One stands, if you lost bad luck, if you won well done.”
The 2020 Premiership season was suspended following the completion of round one due to the current coronavirus pandemic.
The AFL are scheduled to provide an update about any future plans for a resumption later this month.