Footy great lifts the lid on the two-word comment he made to AFL coach Luke Beveridge as tempers flare in explosive pre-match altercation

Kane Cornes was involved in a very tense stand-off with Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge on Thursday evening at the GMHBA Stadium. 

The former Port Adelaide star revealed at the beginning of the month that he has been banned from entering the Bulldogs’ changing room while conducting his broadcasting duties for Channel 7. 

The reason for the ban is still unclear but Cornes has in the past questioned whether Beveridge, who won a premiership in his second season with the Doggies, is the right man for the job. 

Beveridge could be seen walking around the boundary of the pitch at the GMHBA alongside several members of the Bulldogs’ staff ahead of his side’s clash against Geelong. He was seen making a comment to Cornes. 

The Channel 7 pundit appeared to then step away from where he and fellow pundit Nick Riewoldt were preparing to present a broadcast ahead of the match to address the Bulldogs coach. 

Cornes stood up robustly against the Doggies coach and appeared to make several remarks, which prompted Beveridge to stop, turn around and respond. 

Luke Beveridge and Kane Cornes appeared to clash in a heated altercation on Thursday 

Beveridge (right) had appeared to make a comment to Cornes as he walked past, with the Channel 7 pundit then responding

The Port great’s comments appeared to not be well received by the Dogs boss, who looked fuming following the tense moment. 

He subsequently turned his back on Cornes, who later revealed what he had said to Beveridge. 

‘There was a confrontation, there were some words spoken,’ Cornes said. 

‘Look these guys are combative and they do like to protect their clubs and their players.  

‘I don’t have an issue with it. Clearly the relationship with myself and the Western Bulldogs isn’t a strong one.’

Interestingly, after scot had turned and issued another comment to Cornes, Riewoldt, who had initially appeared shocked by the altercation, walked forwards and looked as though he had called Cornes back to the commentary table.   

Recently Cornes had claimed that Beveridge was on a ‘charm offensive’ with certain members of the media, despite having a notoriously prickly relationship with reporters. The comment came at a time where Beveridge is looking to sign a new contract. 

In 2024, Cornes also slammed the footy boss, claiming his side’s elimination final defeat by the Hawks was a result of Beveridge’s inability to maximise the talented group of players at his disposal. 

Cornes later admitted that it was an ‘awkward situation’ and that he had said ‘G’day Bevo’ to the footy boss 

The former Port Adelaide player had accused Beveridge (pictured) of going on a charm offensive in recent months as he looks to land a new contract

But on whether he felt that Beveridge had gone a step too far by confronting him, Cornes said: ‘Not so much. 

‘It was an awkward situation because he was staring at me quite strongly and I didn’t really know what to say. 

‘So I just said: ‘G’day Bevo’. 

‘And it wasn’t received that well as you can see. I would have liked to have gone along with the conversation and had it respectfully but it wasn’t the time or the place.’ 

Last month, Cornes had not held back when speaking on Beveridge’s recent change in approachability. 

‘He’s playing the media on a break,’ Cornes said during an episode of The Agenda Setters.

‘I find it incredibly amusing that he’s detested the media for such a long period of time and then you’re getting these sort of headlines.

‘I think he’s sucked in the media and I don’t think it’s authentic. It’s strange.

‘Now, maybe someone has sat him down and given him that feedback (that he hasn’t made himself available enough) and he’s taken that on board and it’s been good for the club, and I’d rather coaches speak than not.

‘But for 10 years, he’s hardly spoken, and now because his contract is up for grabs, he’s available to everyone.’