Cornes hits back at Hardwick for his comments

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Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes has returned serve to Damien Hardwick, following comments the Richmond coach made about Cornes following Saturday night's loss to St Kilda.

In the post-match press conference, Hardwick said he gave Cornes' comments that the Tigers were getting ahead of themselves no credibility, and told the media "that’s his job, he’s there to write s--t comments.”

Cornes responded to Hardwick on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show on Sunday morning and said he couldn't understand how they performed so badly this weekend following their huge win against Port Adelaide just eight days ago.

“I think I have made some comments about Richmond in the last 18 months that he hasn’t been happy with,” Cornes said.

“They have been poor for 10 years, the Tigers. They haven’t won a final since 2001.

“The fact that I said they got ahead of themselves, I can’t think of another explanation because coming into that game everyone thought the Tigers were going to win ... last week Damien Hardwick said their best is yet to come — and then they served that up.

“They are not the first time to get ahead of themselves. Lots of sides have done it before, they will do it again ... listening to the coach say last week saying the best is yet to come and you serve up 43 inside-50s against in a half of footy, what does that say?”

Cornes said he was surprised Hardwick actually addressed his comments post-game, and suggested he should be worrying about more pressing issues, the performance of his side against the Saints.

“I haven’t seen him or any other coach swear in the match press conference," Cornes added.

“He can react however he wants, Damien Hardwick. I was surprised he bought into it, I would have thought he had bigger issues to worry about.”

Watch Cornes' full reply to Hardwick in the video above.