AFL great blasts league for ‘bowing’ to Clarko’s umpiring demands

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has hit out at the AFL over reports that there will be a crackdown on the holding the ball adjudication after Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson complained after last Sunday night's win.

Cornes cannot believe the influence the four-time premiership coach has over the AFL.

"How can we have a game where all it takes for a rule change is a coach to come out and have a sook midway through the season?" Cornes asked on SEN's SA Breakfast.

"This is extraordinary that the AFL has informed clubs that they are changing the interpretation of the rule midyear on the back of one of the 18 coaches criticising the rule.

"How much power can one coach [have] over the course, the direction and the interpretation of the game?

"All it's taken for a significant rule adjudication adjustment is for Alastair Clarkson to come out and have a sook that he didn't get a holding the ball decision for one of his [side's] 69 tackles on Sunday night.

"It is extraordinary the power that this man wields over the competition and I can't believe that the AFL are bowing to this.

"Yes, of course have a look at some you got wrong but you don't come out and alert all clubs that you are making a significant adjudication adjustment in the rule just because a premiership coach comes out and says that it's not good enough.

"I honestly nearly fell off my chair when I heard this last night and the power that Alastiar Clarkson has over those at the AFL continues to surprise me.

"They are just going to change the rule mid-season because Clarko's not happy."

Cornes claims Clarkson is the only voice the AFL listens and responds to, believing they should open their scope up to other prominent figures.

"There are a lot of things that are good for the game in the eyes of other coaches," Cornes said.

"Leigh Matthews has come out and says he completely disagrees with Alastair Clarkson, he thinks it will make the game less of a spectacle.

"We've got Gerard Healy saying it's completely wrong that interpretation and that it will ruin the game.

"So why is Clarko the judge and the jury on this one? Why is he the only voice?

"Whether it's good for the game or not, the power he has to change the interpretation of a whole rule mid-season, it just unprecedented.

"No other coach in the comp would have that power. I can't believe the AFL are bowing just to keep the Hawthorn coach happy.

"That's basically what they're doing. 'Let's make sure we keep Clarko happy'. What a joke."