Former AFL nice and polarising media pundit Kane Cornes has issued a stinging criticism of Melbourne’s tradition within the wake of the membership’s reported ultimatum to star midfielder Clayton Oliver.

With Oliver the centre of bombshell commerce rumours main into the 2023 Commerce Interval as a result of a sequence of off-field points, together with over his restoration from hamstring and foot accidents that derailed his season, membership and participant reaffirmed their dedication to at least one one other.

However each Demons CEO Gary Pert and coach Simon Goodwin have since maintained their need to strengthen the membership’s tradition in robust public statements.

“One factor that has enabled us to maintain displaying up is our tradition; a tradition that has been constructed over a time frame and is the piece that we’ll be uncompromising in sustaining and constructing additional to realize the final word success,” Goodwin mentioned on the Dees’ finest and fairest operate on Friday night time.

“One factor that has enabled us to maintain displaying up is our tradition; a tradition that has been constructed over a time frame and is the piece that we’ll be uncompromising in sustaining and constructing additional to realize the final word success,” Goodwin mentioned.

“Everybody must be heading in the identical course, and as we head into the low season, I’ve by no means been extra assured that we will obtain this as a membership.

“Its as much as everybody to maintain driving requirements.”

Nevertheless, talking on SEN, Cornes took difficulty with the Dees’ declare to a powerful tradition, saying Goodwin’s feedback are simply empty phrases in gentle of each the Oliver scenario and the membership’s consecutive straight-sets finals exits since their 2021 premiership.

“It’s a stretch for the membership to rise up there and inform us they’ve a powerful tradition,” Cornes mentioned.

“Melbourne gamers, supporters and the media ought to see straight via that: Melbourne is an efficient crew, however they don’t have a powerful tradition.”

Cornes took a pointed jab at Goodwin’s personal off-field behaviour, with the Demons coach having been accused by former president Glenn Bartlett of drug and playing issues – claims the membership and Goodwin dismissed as ‘unsubstantiated, historic and outrageous’ earlier this yr.

For Cornes, who performed 300 video games with Port Adelaide together with the Energy’s 2004 premiership win, calling for robust low season requirements from Oliver and the remainder of the crew was a contact hypocritical of Goodwin.

“The message from Goodwin to Clayton Oliver was pointed, however Goodwin himself must replicate on his personal behaviour during the last three seasons, which has been regarding and effectively documented and it’s on the general public document,” he mentioned.

“Has he lived to the identical requirements he requested of his marquee participant?”

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(Photograph by Michael Willson/AFL Photographs by way of Getty Pictures)

Cornes was scathing of the remainder of the Demons’ checklist as effectively, citing a string of off-field incidents for the reason that 2021 flag, most notably Steven Might’s club-imposed suspension for a struggle with teammate Jake Melksham in 2022, in addition to their ‘stunning self-discipline’ on the sphere and the ‘weird’ recruitment of Brodie Grundy from Collingwood on the finish of final season, as proof of the membership’s falling requirements in all departments.

“There’s been fixed hypothesis about off-field existence with a few of their gamers for the reason that 2021 premiership which culminated within the Oliver drama that escalated final week,” Cornes mentioned.

“It’s a serious story for the membership’s finest participant, who’s now residing with Max Gawn, and there’s a lengthy seven years left on that contract.

“There’s the weird pitch and recruitment of Brodie Grundy, who they in some way thought they’d flip into Wayne Carey. They went out of their means all yr to inform us that he was at a membership that now values him, however just a few months later he’s gone – shipped off to Sydney.

“On the sphere, their stunning self-discipline price them a spot on this yr’s prelim last after a number of gamers imploded in that semi last towards Carlton.

“For the reason that 2021 premiership, Melbourne has had something however a powerful tradition. Goodwin’s phrases on Friday had been simply that – phrases.

“And everybody, together with Oliver, and the remainder of the gamers, could have been scratching their head [over] simply what course this membership goes.”

The Demons completed within the high 4 for the third consecutive season in 2023, however had been wasteful of their consecutive finals losses, falling to eventual premiers Collingwood by seven factors within the preliminary last regardless of a 69-37 inside 50 dominance, and throwing away a late lead of their semi last loss to the Blues.

Star defender Steven Might attracted criticism after footage off his speech after inserting fifth within the Demons’ finest and fairest unfold on social media, through which he claimed the Dees had been ‘so significantly better’ than the Magpies.

“We lose to Collingwood, they usually go on to win the flag, and it f–king hurts,” Might mentioned.

“We’re a greater crew than them, we should always have smoked them… and to sit down there on grand last day and watch them hoist the cup, and get the medals, I’m sitting there going ‘Jeez, our crew’s so significantly better than these guys’.

“We must always’ve been on the market, however we weren’t.”