11-08-2025
‘Completely comical': AFL a total mess as classy act torched
The AFL has been split in two over honour guards performed for players over the weekend.
Kane Cornes has led the criticism of classy acts performed by the Bulldogs and Tigers in celebrating opposition players during their milestone games.
The Dogs clapped in line as Melbourne's Ed Langdon was chaired off the MCG following his 200th game on Sunday.
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Richmond also filed into line to show the club's respect for Jack Steele as the St Kilda star celebrated his 200-game milestone as the Saints won a thriller at the MCG on Saturday.
Those classy acts are why the Adelaide Crows have caused a stir when players were not in attendance as West Coast's Liam Duggan was chaired from the field in front of an honour guard of West Coast players and staff at Optus Stadium.
Any criticism surrounding the actions of Crows players was quickly shut down as footy commentator Tim Gossage said on SEN Crows captain Jordan Dawson had spoken with West Coast integrity officer Peter Staples and offered to be part of the 200-game honour guard.
However, the differing approaches between the three milestone celebrations during Round 22 shows the league is all at sea when it comes to honouring players on special days.
It's one of the reasons Cornes hit out at Melbourne and Richmond players on Monday morning.
'I saw some extraordinary scenes on the weekend,' Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
'Scenes that I actually cannot believe. How soft has the game become. What is going on?
'I saw two teams hang around post-match on the ground line up and give guards of honour for game 200.
'I'm not talking Steele Sidebottom 350 (games). I'm not talking last ever game Sam Docherty. I'm not talking game 300, I'm talking game 200.
'The Western Bulldogs lining up for Ed Langdon is as comical as I've seen, and Richmond lining up for Jack Steele is completely comical.
'So game 300 is the limit or a significant player's retirement. Where to next? 150? 100? First gamers get a chair off?
'Who has decided to line up for Jack Steele? Ed Langdon?
'You should say 'well done' and shake his hand, wish him well on his milestone, but we're not giving him a guard of honour.
'Who signed off on the guards of honour? Steam was coming out of my ears. People say relax and don't let things affect you, but they do.
'We've just become so soft.'
A quick look at milestone games this year shows there is widespread disagreement between players on the subject.
Recent milestone matches where players have been given honour guards by their opposition
— Hawthorn players provide an honour guard for Collingwood's Steele Sidebottom on his 350th game.
— Richmond players give an honour guard for Jack Steele on his 200th game.
— Bulldogs players provide an honour guard for Ed Langdon on his 200th game.
— Hawthorn players provide an honour guard for retiring Carlton star Sam Docherty and defender Jacob Weitering on his 200th game.
— Giants star Lachie Whitfield was given an honour guard by Geelong players after his 250th game.
— Eagles star Jamie Cripps was given honour guard by Port Adelaide after his 250th game.
— Tom Liberatore was given an honour guard by North Melbourne players after the Bulldogs midfielder's 250th game.
— Marcus Bontempelli was given an honour guard by the Swans after the superstar's 250th game.
Milestone matches where players have not been given honour guards by opposition players (for various reasons)
— Liam Duggan was not given an honour guard by Crows players on Sunday night.
— Carlton and the Gold Coast Suns held separate honour guards for George Hewett and Jarrod Witts as they reached 200 games over Saturday.
— Bulldogs players did not do an honour guard for Hugh McCluggage as the Lions star reached 200 games.
— Clayton Oliver was not given a honour guard by Carlton players after his 200th game.
— Caleb Daniel was not given an honour guard by Essendon as he reached his 200th game.
— Jason Johannisen was not given an honour guard by Port Adelaide players in Ballarat for his 200th game.
— Hawthorn's Jarman Impey was not given an honour guard by Carlton for his 200th game.
— Jack Crisp was not given an honour guard by Geelong players as he surpassed Jim Stynes' iconic record of 245 consecutive games. He left the field with his family and was honoured by Collingwood players and staff.
It is far from the only time Cornes has hit out over clubs deciding to honour opposition players.
Cornes last year swiped the Crows when the club gave Hawks veteran Jack Gunston an honour guard in his 250th game.
Gunston walked out on the Crows early in his career to move to the Hawks.
'For Adelaide, their worst performance of the season yesterday, it signalled the end of any chance of them playing finals this year,' he began on Channel 9's Sunday Footy Show in June, 2024.
'It was to be honest a pathetic performance. So what do you do after the game, after you put in a performance like that?
'Let's line up for a guard of honour for a player who left the club after two years and went on to play in three premierships in a row at Hawthorn and cheer him off for game 250.'
Cornes went on to say: 'I could not believe, for game 250, which is a good milestone for Jack Gunston, don't get me wrong, but it's not guard-of-honour worthy.
'Your season is finished, you've lost your 10 in a row at the MCG, you're not playing finals, and you line-up for a player who left after two seasons to go and win three flags at another club.
'It was unbelievable, I couldn't believe it.
'If I'm Taylor Walker, if I'm Jordan Dawson, I'm going, 'Why are we lining up for 250'?
'Two-fifty is not a milestone that we celebrate for another club.
'How do you reckon the Crows fans — so Gunston gets drafted to the club, he leaves after two years — Crows fans are at home going 'that's the performance we put in'.
'Now we're lining up for a guy who left after two years and played in three flags at Hawthorn.
'I couldn't believe it. Why are we so nice?'
