AFL players being chaired from the ground in milestone games can be among the more revered moments in the sport, but one ex-player has had a enough of it.
Outspoken media identity and former Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes says the move has become a “pandemic”, slamming the chairing of Essendon captain Zach Merrett after the Bombers’ 77-point loss to Geelong.
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Merrett was chaired off by teammates and received a guard of honour from his side as well as Geelong after the massacre at GMHBA Stadium.
Two-time All Australian Cornes feels the honour should be reserved for more important milestones.
“The only mistake Geelong made was this after the game,” Cornes said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“Why are we needing a guard of honour in terms of the Bombers lining up for him?
“I would’ve just got off the ground straight away. You’ve lost by 77, you’ve been embarrassed, game over halfway through the first quarter.”
Merrett was far from the only AFL type to receive the honour in recent weeks.
Rory Sloane was also chaired off following his 250th game against GWS on Saturday night, another game which had ended in a loss for the honouree.
Cornes also took aim at umpire Brett Rosebury, who was given a guard of honour after officiating his 500th match in this weekend’s clash between Collingwood and Fremantle.
One of the few who refused the honour was Swans coach John Longmire, who resisted the urging of his side to be chaired off following his 300th match as coach in Sydney’s victory over the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night.
“There’s a pandemic,” Cornes continued. “We’re now lining up for umpires.
“It’s a great effort Brett, you’ve been a terrific umpire, game number 500, but we are lining up too often.
“What is it? At the end of your career we’ll send you off, you’ll be in the hall of fame, we’ll recognise that.
“GWS lining up for Rory Sloane in game 250? What is going on? There is a guard of honour pandemic.
“North Melbourne last week lined up for Zach Tuohy because he broke the Irish record (for AFL games played).”
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Cornes believes the honour should only be saved for the absolute greats of the sport.
“Unless you’re Dustin Martin and you retire and it’s your last game, line up for Dustin Martin or a champion, Scott Pendlebury, (but) 250 (games), 200, umpires, breaking Irish records, that’s embarrassing,” he said.
“That’s embarrassing, Zach Merrett, 200, you’ve lost by 77, get off the ground.”
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