North Melbourne bans Channel 7 AFL pundit Kane Cornes from interviewing players and staff over 'personal attacks'

North Melbourne players and coaches have refused Channel 7 requests for interviews with Kane Cornes over the former player's criticism of Kangaroos stars Harry Sheezel and Jy Simpkin.

Cornes took specific aim at Sheezel and Simpkin during the week after the Kangaroos loss to Port Adelaide — Cornes's former team — by nine points.

The Kangaroos currently sit second-last on the ladder with just one win.

Cornes said Sheezel, who was the top possession winner in the game, had been getting easy touches and had not been damaging, while he criticised Simpkin for being too vocal during the match.

Alastair Clarkson and Todd Viney together at a North Melbourne game. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)

"The way that he [Simpkin] carried on on the weekend, for a player that's won 16 games in six years … now, I'm led to believe he was extremely vocal and mouthing off to the likes you just wouldn't see from a very, very poor football team," Cornes said.

"He was on the lip all day. Now this is, once again, a captain who can't even play in his own midfield, playing at half-forward."

Kangaroos football boss Todd Viney said on Wednesday that the criticisms had led the club to ban Cornes from talking to its players and coach.

"We received a request from Channel 7 for Kane Cornes and Luke Hodge to come and do an interview with our coach (Alastair Clarkson)," Viney said.

"But on the back of some commentary that we feel has been … over two and a half years there's been some personal attacks on the club and vindictive attacks that we feel have been unwarranted."

North Melbourne play a rare prime time game on Thursday night against Essendon at Docklands.

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"We understand the role of the media," Viney said.

"But we believe some of the commentary from Kane, and particularly earlier this week with a couple of our players in Jy Simpkin and Sheezel, overstepped the line, was inappropriate, targeted, vindictive, bullying behaviour that we as a club won't stand for.

"We hope for balanced critique of our performances, but when it starts to overstep the line and become personal, it's my responsibility and the club's responsibility to look after our people.

"Therefore Channel 7, Luke Hodge and whoever else they'd like to present to have the conversation with Clarko, it's still open, but until we start hearing some more respectful dialogue from Kane around our people and our club, we won't be engaging with him on any of his media channels."

Cornes responded to the ban on an Instagram post while walking through the airport, explaining that there had been an agreement to interview Clarkson in the rooms prior to the game.

"It is strange that Clarko with all his experience wasn't able to answer some of those questions," Cornes said in reference to his Sheezel criticisms and the way the club use him on the field.

"Let's see if North Melbourne can chalk up their second win of the year.

"Look forward to it."

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