{"id":275470,"date":"2025-11-10T13:27:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T13:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/275470\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T13:27:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T13:27:18","slug":"kane-cornes-slams-embarrassing-overreaction-ahead-of-afls-wildcard-round-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/275470\/","title":{"rendered":"Kane Cornes slams \u2018embarrassing overreaction\u2019 ahead of AFL\u2019s wildcard round in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes has slammed footy fans\u2019 reaction to the AFL\u2019s<\/a> wildcard round as \u201cembarrassing\u201d.<\/p>\n

The AFL confirmed on Monday it would extend the finals series by an extra week<\/a> to include ninth and 10th on the ladder in knockout games against seventh and eighth.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL draws criticism for wildcard round.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today \"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

This year, for example, the Western Bulldogs (ninth) would have played for their lives against Hawthorn (eighth), and Sydney (10th) would have taken on Gold Coast (seventh).<\/p>\n

Opinion is divided about the major finals shake-up, with many fans outraged at the change \u2014 but Cornes told 7NEWS he\u2019s excited about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it. I think the overreaction has been a little bit embarrassing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the time it rolls around, everyone is going to be all for it. They\u2019ll be watching and the ability for the season to remain alive for a number of teams longer can only be a good thing for the home and away season for a lot of those teams.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Port Adelaide champion says the extra chance for teams on the fringe of the top eight will add more meaning to games that may have otherwise been dead-rubbers late in the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives teams hope and it gives them something to play for,\u201d Cornes said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want the integrity of the competition to remain strong. Teams half-way through the year if they realised they couldn\u2019t play finals, previously they were thinking about next year. This keeps the season alive for longer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives us a couple of good games hopefully in the bye week that we\u2019ll all be watching for and largely, it gives supporters hope throughout the majority of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KaneKane Cornes is all for the AFL\u2019s wildcard weekend. Credit: Getty<\/p>\n

The criticism against the wildcard weekend suggests that it rewards mediocrity, gifting the 10th-placed team the chance to compete with the best.<\/p>\n

But Cornes says ultimately the best teams should still prevail.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019ll get found out in the wildcard weekend. If they\u2019re not good enough, they\u2019re not going to be good enough regardless,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon defended the decision, despite its criticism.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it rewards mediocrity,\u201d he said on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat it does is it provides opportunity and more games of consequence. Fans love finals and they love games of consequence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornes said if anything, it places more jeopardy on finishing inside the top six to avoid another sudden-death game, and puts the onus on the higher-ranked team to \u201cmake sure they get the job done\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cTop six is absolutely vital. You get the week off and if you don\u2019t finish top six then you leave yourself incredible vulnerable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The four-time Power best and fairest winner clarified, though, that he doesn\u2019t think games in the wildcard weekend should count as genuine finals.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt shouldn\u2019t count as a final game \u2014 the finals start the week after when the top eight is set,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

AFL boss explains wildcard call as greats lash \u2018knee-jerk\u2019 shift<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

AFL to push ahead with divisive new system<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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