Why this post-game vision angered AFL greatBy Chris De Silva
Nine
21 June 2020
Kane Cornes was unimpressed by this vision which showed Pickett laughing with teammate Shai Bolton (Seven)Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has slammed Richmond's Marlion Pickett for vision which showed him laughing in the changerooms after the loss against Hawthorn.
Like many of his teammates, Pickett was well below his best against the Hawks, but it was his actions after the match that left Cornes worried for the culture at the club.
After starring on debut in last year's AFL Grand Final, Pickett has endured a torrid run of three games to start the 2020 season, averaging just 10.3 disposals per game.
"To see after the game, what could you possibly be laughing about when you haven't touched the ball for three weeks?" Cornes told the AFL Sunday Footy Show.
"Yes, you had a good Grand Final, but it's not a good look and the coaches are filthy with that. Mark Williams didn't let us shake hands if we lost a game.
"To see that, how much is it meaning to the Tigers fans who have been up the top for so long, to see the effort on the field and then to see them mucking around in the changerooms is just a small warning sign.
"How much is it meaning to the Tigers when they've been up the top for so long? If you want to be remembered as a Brisbane, Geelong or Hawthorn, they've got to win another one.
"That's not taking anything away from the great side they've been the last three years, but on-field and off-field, small warning signs that the hunger isn't there."
Cornes went a step further, suggesting that it "wouldn't be harsh" for Richmond coach Damien Hardwick to drop Pickett after his poor run of form this season.
"I think a three-week stretch of poor form is about the form line where you're prepared to look at bringing someone else in and maintaining selection integrity," he said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he lost his place in the side this week."
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd accepted that different players have different ways of dealing with losing, but said he wouldn't have reacted like Pickett after a poor performance.
"I know if I played a shocker and had four or five touches, there's no way I'd be laughing about anything," he said.
"Everyone is different, everyone deals with getting over a poor performance in a different way.
"It's not a hanging offence in my eyes, but I wouldn't have done it. I'm just gutted for a day or two days, but that's half my problem too because I couldn't get on with things."
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