by Jimmy_041 » Thu Mar 31, 2016 4:29 pm
PORT Adelaide and Adelaide have called for greater security at SANFL matches after Chad Cornes labelled the crowd at Norwood Oval last week as “probably the most abusive I’ve ever been involved with either at AFL or SANFL level’’.
Former AFL star Cornes, coaching the Magpies for the first time last Thursday night, said he and his players felt threatened and that the Redlegs should be “embarrassed’’ by the behaviour of some of their supporters.
“A bit more has to be done with (SANFL) security,’’ said Cornes, the oldest son of inaugural Crows coach Graham Cornes and brother of Power games recordholder Kane Cornes.
“Just walking down at the breaks I thought something could happen here, so the SANFL needs to look at that and beef up security.
“I don’t mind when they say it to me but some of the stuff they were saying to the boys (players) is just completely unacceptable.
“Some of the supporters need to have a good look at themselves and I’d be a little bit embarrassed if I was a part of the ‘normal’ Norwood supporters because of what some of the lower ones were saying to our boys.
“I won’t say what they said but it’s just not good enough.’’
It is understood Power-listed Paul Stewart had “kill’ threats directed at him.
Kane Cornes, now an assistant coach at Glenelg, wrote in his The Advertiser column that he left The Parade at halftime of the SANFL season opener with his young family after witnessing the abuse.
“A much-anticipated family outing to kick off the Easter long weekend turned into a halftime exit thanks to some appalling crowd behaviour,’’ he said.
“You’d hate to see the kids miss out on the chance to run on to the ground at the breaks thanks to a few thugs.’’
Chad Cornes, who played 239 games for the Power from 1999-2011 and 16 for GWS in 2012, said offenders should be thrown out of SANFL matches.
Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie backed Cornes’s call for greater safety measures for players and coaches and revealed Adelaide employs its own plain-clothes security guards to deal with crowd trouble “just in case something happens’’.
“I reiterate what Chad says in that we need to look at it (greater security),’’ Younie said.
“As Chad says it’s not just about the coaches but the players deserve the respect to be able to go about their business without being criticised personally and to the level it sometimes gets to.
“We are a unique competition in that we allow our supporters to come onto the ground, which is fantastic for our local supporters, but we’ve got to be respectful that these players — both the AFL clubs and SANFL traditional clubs — are there to do a job.
“The SANFL will no doubt look into it but coaches at every club should have some sort of security around them to support them because we’d hate to see a point where supporters aren’t allowed on the ground at quarter and three-quarter time breaks.’’
Norwood chief executive Geoff Baynes said crowd emotions were high at The Parade because of the healthy rivalry with Port but he said his club did not condone behaviour that “crossed the line’’.
He said Redlegs security staff have been instructed to warn offenders for a first offence and then evict them from the ground for a second.
“SANFL supports a strong stance be taken by its clubs against poor crowd behaviour,’’ he said.
“We understand rivalry is a significant part of football, however, we remind fans of the consequences of taking their passion too far.
“When behaviours are impacting the enjoyment of participants, officials and patrons, they are damaging to our game and as such our tolerance levels and response need to be suitably actioned.”
dedja: Dunno, I’m just an idiot.