AFL greats Kane Cornes and Matthew Lloyd roast the Melbourne Demons
AFL greats Kane Cornes and Matthew Lloyd have savaged the coaching and recruitment of the Melbourne Demons following their disastrous start to the 2020 season.
The Demons through four games have only accumulated just one win so far, adding more misery to their supporter base which endured a brutal 2019 campaign with second-last placed finish.
It's been a fall from grace for the struggling side who in 2018 were one game away from a grand final appearance.
The disappointing run has Cornes and Lloyd questioning moves made by the coaching staff, most notably the 2018 trade period where the Demons gave up pick six, who turned out to be gun forward Ben King, in exchange for defender Steven May.
Steven May Getty
Cornes believes the clubs "totally overestimated" their list and said it would "kill" Demons fans seeing King in different colours.
"It's a coaching issue now, I don't think it's a personnel issue," Cornes told Nine's Footy Classified.
"You've got to look at how they see the list. They've clearly totally overestimated where they think they are on the list.
"If we look at their recent trades, you don't do this unless you think you are there in the window. You don't go get Adam Tomlinson and Ed Langdon and top up, pay big money in a 27-year-old at the time in Steven May.
Ben King Getty
"It would kill watching him (Ben King). Seeing what he did for the Gold Coast in Geelong on Saturday night would kill Demons fans.
"He's the one player they need but instead you have a 28-year-old who hasn't fired a shot in Steven May."
Lloyd said the club lacked ball users due to their decision to prioritise bigger-bodied players.
The Essendon legend questioned why the likes of Sam Weideman and Harley Bennell were struggling to get a game.
"I think they've recruited bulls who aren't great ball users," he said.
"There's no real forward you want to kick and kick long to. There's just no confidence in the forwards. I don't think they're elite by foot, except for (Christian) Petracca.
"All these players they through would be strong can't get a game like Sam Weideman and Harley Bennell."
