Channel Seven stars Luke Hodge and Kane Cornes collided in tense scenes on Tuesday night as the footy greats debated Alastair Clarkson’s coaching methods at North Melbourne.
The Kangaroos have won just one game this season and Cornes questioned whether Clarkson is the best choice to be in charge at Arden St after he was touted as the team’s saviour when joined the struggling club in 2023.
Speaking on Seven’s The Agenda Setters, Cornes’ view produced a passionate retort from Hodge, who won four premierships under Clarkson at Hawthorn.
‘That club (Kangaroos) has been unstable for a long time,’ Hodge began.
‘This is a club that needs stability.’
Cornes then interjected, asking: ‘Do you concede?’ before Hodge fired back, ‘Don’t make me say it again’, a reference to when the decorated midfielder recently told the Port Adelaide premiership winner to ‘shut up’ during another fiery TV debate.
AFL greats Luke Hodge (pictured right) and Kane Cornes collided in tense scenes on Tuesday night as they debated Alastair Clarkson’s coaching methods at North Melbourne
The Kangaroos have won just one game this season and Cornes questioned on The Agenda Setters if Clarkson (pictured) is the best choice to be at the helm at Arden St
Luke Hodge and Alastair Clarkson won four premierships together at Hawthorn (pictured, after winning the 2014 Grand Final)
Hodge – who previously told Cornes ‘stop talking for the sake of talking’ – then continued by stating his belief that ‘North Melbourne need the same voice for at least 18 months’ as they continue their rebuild.
Cornes felt an 18-month window to improve was too long, to which Hodge once more replied ‘don’t make me say it again’.
As tensions threatened to boil over, veteran journalist Caroline Wilson bluntly stated ‘there are four people on this panel’, suggesting the pair settle down.
On occasion, Hodge and Cornes are on the same page when it comes to footy.
Both feel the Kangaroos have spent too money securing the signature of Luke Davies-Uniacke.
The midfielder recently inked a seven-year contract to stay at Arden Street, believed to be for $1.3million per season.
Cornes is adamant the club have paid overs, with Davies-Uniacke earning ‘Dustin Martin type money’ in his eyes.
Hodge felt Davies-Uniacke’s contract has ‘set the standard’ and Kangaroos teammates who could command more money may end up seeing the club’s salary cap bent out of shape.
The Kangaroos next face a tough assignment when they take on Port Adelaide, who are coming off a last start, hard-fought win against the Swans at the SCG.