Misryoum reports Kane Cornes has stepped down from All-Australian selection and Rising Star roles after Sportsbet links triggered a policy shift.
AFL pundit Kane Cornes has been forced to step down from key league roles after his ongoing ties with gambling giant Sportsbet became incompatible with the company’s updated policy.
Misryoum understands Cornes. a former Port Adelaide premiership player. had served on the AFL’s All-Australian selection panel and also judged the Rising Star award since 2022.. The change comes as Sportsbet moved to restrict its programming from using serving officials across footy codes. with Cornes holding positions that fell within the scope of that decision.
The latest development adds to a broader pattern of scrutiny around sport-linked betting relationships, particularly when league roles intersect with bookmaker-linked media work.
In this context. Sportsbet said it would stop featuring serving sports administrators or officials in its programming and began reviewing relevant talent agreements.. As part of that review, Cornes was asked to step away from his AFL appointments.. Sportsbet also referenced its “In The Back Pocket” podcast involvement. which is produced by the company and aligns with its existing position as a major betting partner of the AFL.
Meanwhile, Sportsbet framed Cornes’s decision as difficult but necessary, indicating it was acting to support its policy stance and review process. The immediate outcome is that Cornes will no longer participate in the All-Australian selection duties or Rising Star judging.
This matters for the AFL because All-Australian and Rising Star voting carry reputational weight, and any perceived conflicts can quickly become a public conversation beyond the field.
The domino effect also reached another well-known figure associated with Sportsbet coverage.. Misryoum notes that AFL umpire Nick Foot was informed late last week that his services as a racing analyst are no longer required by the company. following similar separation steps connected to prior controversies.
Misryoum reports that the AFL has previously backed Foot in relation to his racing analyst partnership. even as recent tribunal-related headlines intensified attention on betting ties and sports governance.. Foot. who has umpired more than 250 AFL matches including the 2024 grand final. is now set to be absent from Sportsbet’s racing programming.
At the end of the day, the AFL’s most visible awards and officials exist in a world where transparency expectations keep rising. Decisions like these can reshape how leagues and broadcasters manage commercial relationships, even when the on-field focus remains unchanged.