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Kane Cornes has brutally torn strips off multiple Geelong stars for their Mad Monday fancy dress costumes, and took aim at one player in particular for ‘disrespecting’ one of his work colleagues, Caroline Wilson.
Players including Bailey Smith, Patrick Dangerfield, Max Holmes and Brad Close have found themselves in the spotlight for their outfits and social media posts that were published during the club’s end-of-season function.
Smith, 24, in particular has been slammed by the former AFL player Mitch Brown as a ‘homophobic loser’ after the midfielder, who was wearing a western-themed outfit which was a nod to Brad Pitt’s character, Tristan Ludlow, in the 1994 film Legends of the Fall, appeared to make reference to the movie Brokeback Mountain, in a controversial picture with Dangerfield, that he chose to publish on his Instagram Story.
Dangerfield appeared to place his hand on Smith’s stomach and pose for a picture, with the latter writing: ‘Or Brokeback Mountain. Depends on how ya look at it. This is what losing a Granny does to ya. Alright, phone away now. Bye.’
There is no indication that Dangerfield knew the photo was going to be published with that caption.
Holmes has also copped flak, after he appeared to dress as well respected football journalist Caroline Wilson, who is one of Cornes’ Channel 7 broadcasting colleagues.
Multiple Geelong stars, including Bailey Smith (left) have been criticised following their Mad Monday end-of-season celebrations
Smith had also appeared to mock The Age and Channel 7 journalist, publishing a picture of himself and Holmes on his Instagram story. He captioned the image: ‘Caro has never looked better..’ adding a ‘dripping sweat emoji’ which often carries sexual connotations.
The 23-year-old wore a patterned red dress and a black wig, while he also appeared to carry a bow and arrow - in reference to Wilson’s Channel Nine segment ‘Caro’s Arrow’.
It’s not the first time Holmes has dressed as a figure from the AFL media, with the footballer having impersonated SEN’s Gerard Whately in 2023 and last year dressed as Channel 7 reporter Mitch Cleary.
Cornes was also incensed at how the side appeared to have very quickly moved on from their disappointing Grand Final defeat by Brisbane on Saturday, claiming that some supporters would not take kindly to the players’ antics, given that many would still be reeling from the defeat.
Close, 27, arrived dressed as the renowned Geelong fan, The Catman. He had painted his face to mimic the Catman and donned a headband and a pair of cat ears.
But speaking on Trade Radio, Cornes was not enthused by the 25-year-old small forward’s costume.
'You're embarrassed on Grand Final Day, pretty much getting absolutely smashed, but then in the background somewhere, you have organised a face painter to have your face painted like a cat, to turn up and celebrate a 10-goal Grand Final,' the Port Adelaide great said.
'Close, who at some point last week thought: "I'm going to sit down for an hour or 90 minutes to get my face painted after we've been smashed and I've had 12 touches in a Grand Final and I'm going to turn up while my supporters are still hurting and celebrate a Grand Final smashing".
He then turned his attention to Holmes and did not hold back.
'Imagine Max Holmes thinking it's a good idea to disrespect a legend of Australian football media in Caroline Wilson and trying to ridicule her.
Cornes blasted the club, stating that it was 'one of the most embarrassing days at the Geelong footy club that I've seen in a while'
Cornes took aim at Brad Close (left) who had appeared to dress up as renowned Cats fan, The Catman, saying: 'you have organised a face painter to have your face painted like a cat, to turn up and celebrate a 10-goal Grand Final'
'I thought that was one of the more embarrassing days at the Geelong footy club that I've seen in a while.’
Wilson is yet to speak publicly on Geelong's fancy dress party.
'They've owned this space for a long time, but at some point have you just got to say: "It's not book week, we're not in year five",’ Cornes added.
Smith had also appeared to mock The Age and Channel 7 journalist, publishing a picture of himself and Holmes on his Instagram story. The picture was later deleted.
He captioned the image: ‘Caro has never looked better..’ adding a ‘dripping sweat emoji’ which often carries sexual connotations.
'I thought Close, Holmes, Smith and Dangerfield, they embarrassed themselves yesterday,’ Cornes added.
'Let's just turn up in a shirt and some jeans and have a good day, a few quiet beers and celebrate a Grand Final loss where we got smashed in the second half.
'We don't need to dress up and make ourselves look like fools.’
Wilson (pictured, left) is yet to speak publicly on Geelong's fancy dress party (Cornes, right)
While the Cats have been open on their post-season parties for many years, this year’s antics have copped widespread criticism.
'Of course, they're entitled to gather,’ Cornes explained, before claiming that the players needed to show more maturity.
'We're not 12, it's not year five. You look like an idiot.
'Do you think Chris Scott is looking at that and thinking: "Oh yeah, that's good"?. Still under investigation.'
Daily Mail has contacted Geelong for comment regarding the Mad Monday party.
