"Tactical disaster": Cornes slams Kangaroo coaching blunders

Kane Cornes has taken aim at North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson after their 36-point loss to Adelaide on Sunday afternoon.

Clarkson pre-planned a number of tactical moves in anticipation of the contest, looking to free up defender Charlie Comben in an intercepting role, shifting the likes of Toby Pink and Aidan Corr to man the in-form Crow key forwards.

With the Crows three-pronged attack combining for nine goals, Cornes was very critical post-game of Clarkson’s inability to shift ideas as the game transpired.

“It’s hard to know how scathing to be of North, but I think the performance of Alastair Clarkson in the coach’s box needs to be addressed in some way,” Cornes said on the AFL Nation call.

“Not scouting Taylor Walker in the ruck which cost them two goals, the (Ben) Keays and (Charlie) Comben matchup had nightmare written all over it from the first minute of the game.

“I thought they gave Izak Rankine just far too much space. I thought the (Aidan) Corr and (Riley) Thilthorpe matchup needed to be changed pretty early and Comben needed to be rolled over.

“I didn’t think they were able to get (Harry) Sheezel involved in the game at all, and I just reckon North Melbourne is past performances like this, to concede 114 again - how many times have they conceded over 100 under Alastair Clarkson - I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say the pressure is rising, and I think it should be.”

Cornes doubled down on SEN’s Fireball, claiming that Clarkson could be in the hot seat if he fails to clean up his tactical errors.

“It's hard to believe a four-time premiership coach could have such a nightmare in the box,” he said.

“It was a tactical disaster. North Melbourne is too good for this level of performance, and Clarko should be coaching for his career over the next six weeks.”

A tough challenge ahead for North Melbourne as they take on the Swans at Marvel this Saturday night.