Carlton and Richmond are reportedly set to be stripped of their Round 1 season opener amid difficult periods, and now Kane Cornes has "hesitantly" questioned whether Essendon should be dropped from Anzac Day until they improve. The Bombers showed little of their recent promise in being smashed by 77 points against Collingwood on Saturday. More than 92,000 fans turned up to the MCG for what remained the highlight of the round despite being one of four fixtures on the day.
A similar situation will occur next year when Anzac Day falls on a Sunday. Despite being cleared out of Thursday and Friday games this year after being overexposed in 2025, there were few doubts about Essendon's Collingwood blockbuster — until now. "Is it a time for Essendon to have a spell?" Cornes said on SEN. "I know you built it but North Melbourne built Friday night footy and they don't play Friday night every week any more. I know you built it, I know you were instrumental in what it is today, but does that guarantee you playing on Anzac Day every year?"
"Because the Bombers — for whatever reason, and it's performance reasons — are ratings kryptonite. No one watches Essendon. It's the reason why Thursday night footy was a disaster late last year and they had to get them out of Thursday night footy, and any prime time fixture, they just haven't performed. So do you lose that right when you continually front up in prime time no one watches you, crowds dip and your performance isn't there?" Cornes added. "So a three-year spell for the Bombers on Anzac Day until they can get their stuff together."
Co-host David King said history and tradition should matter, but Cornes was adamant that performance must trump all. The Channel 7 commentator pointed to their record in the Anzac match — two wins since 2014 — and recent moves by the AFL to drop other underperforming powerhouses. "The game is funded by the broadcaster, right, and it's funded by media. And if people start choosing to tune out to Essendon games — which is what's happening, unfortunately — it's not good for them in their stage of development to be in the prime time stage," Cornes said.
"It was no good for Hawthorn three years ago. It was no good for Carlton one year when they had a million prime time games and they couldn't cope with it — so you get them out. I just think a Geelong-Collingwood or a Sydney-Collingwood on Anzac Day, open it up to different markets around the country with the rivalry between Sydney and Collingwood, who have played some great games over the years, just lock that in for three years. How often do Geelong have bad years? Not often. Sydney the same. I know it can happen to everyone but I just think it's time for ratings-kryptonite Bombers to have a spell on Anzac Day."
Essendon opened their season with a 62-point loss to Hawthorn in front of 71,384 fans on a Friday night. They kicked just one goal in the first half of their next prime time fixture — on Easter Sunday against the Bulldogs — before allowing the Pies to pile on their first 100-point score in almost a year on Anzac Day. The Bombers will be centre stage again next month for Dreamtime at the 'G against winless Richmond.
Cornes remains positive on Essendon's direction, hence his suggestion of a three-year break from Anzac Day. "I understand where they're at, that's what I do (think). They're 3-4 years away. They've made the right decision on where to take this list forward. Their game style's an issue, it has been an issue for a while. But they at least know where they're at, they're investing in the draft and you need some experience around them," he said.
Channel 7's Caroline Wilson last week reported Richmond-Carlton will not return as the true season opener when Round 1 returns next year following the failed Opening Round experiment. "I think the AFL is looking at a grand final rematch instead," Wilson said.
