Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has lashed star Bulldog Adam Treloar for an apparent lack of effort in his side’s thrilling semi-final win against the Brisbane Lions, suggesting the former Pie has his nose out of joint after having his role changed mid-season.
In a damning highlights (or rather, lowlights) reel, Cornes exposed several passages of play in which Treloar was found wanting due to a lack of effort or desire.
Cornes claimed the $4.5 million star had “spat the dummy” as a result of being moved from a primarily midfield role to the half-forward line.
He added that if the Bulldogs are to move past Port Adelaide in Saturday’s preliminary final at Adelaide Oval, Treloar needed to get his head in the game and take some of the responsibility off Marcus Bontempelli, particularly if the inspirational leader is unable to take his place in the side due to injury.
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“I was really disappointed with his body language,” Cornes told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He looked to me like a player, and you saw those numbers – 12 centre bounce appearances per game throughout the majority of the year and only three in the final series – he looks like he’s spat the dummy a little bit because he’s not playing midfield.
“Some of these examples that we saw are quite concerning for a player who has an opportunity to win a premiership. It’s not good enough for a player like that.
“How engaged is he in this game of footy? This is a final, a close final where your team goes through. It’s just sloppy play from a player who is on big money and needs to be better.
“He’s one player that if they (Bulldogs) want to win and if Bontempelli is sore, they’re going to need much more from him.”
Treloar’s performance was arguably one of the biggest talking points to emerge from the Bulldogs’ win over the Lions, with coach Luke Beveridge challenging his star to turn it around this weekend.
“Tonight probably wasn’t his most prolific game,” Beveridge said after the win.
“Hopefully we get Adam Treloar’s best in the preliminary final and it makes a real difference. I’m sure he’ll come up and put his best foot forward next week.”
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