Crows coach responds as Josh Rachele labelled 'laughing stock' over Port Adelaide taunt

Matthew Nicks has defended Josh Rachele and says the AFL needs more characters in the game, but Kane Cornes has labelled the Adelaide Crows player a 'laughing stock'. Rachele lit the fuse for the Showdown between Adelaide and Port Adelaide last week when he said Crows fans have teeth - unlike their Power counterparts.

He then doubled down on Saturday night during the game, taunting Port fans by gesturing to his teeth after kicking an early goal. Unfortunately for Rachele the decision backfired, as Port ran out 11.14 (80) to 8.10 (58) winners in the cross-town grudge match.

Speaking after the game, Nicks said it was refreshing to see from Rachele considering the majority of players have become "robots" in the modern game. "When you've got a night like tonight where it's got everything, part of that is the theatre and part of that's the adrenaline that's pumping through people's bodies," Nicks said.

"People in the stands, their heart rates are through the roof, and from our players and their point of view, they're doing it as well with physical fatigue and working their way through. So emotions are high. It's a part of footy and if we stamp that out we become robots, and it worries me. But we can get carried away at times. I think most people in the stadium did tonight."

Nicks' comment that people "got carried away" appeared to be a reference to Rachele and other Crows players being jeered by Port supporters. Izak Rankine was also booed as he left the ground on a medicab after a high bump from Dan Houston.

"When you look back on the key moments in that second half, some of our guys are still understanding where composure is needed," the coach added. "The emotion's high but there's a key to that - you've then got to knuckle down and play footy."

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Kane Cornes torches Josh Rachele over Port Adelaide taunts

While Nicks didn't have a problem with Rachele's actions, Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes certainly did. Speaking on AFL.com segment 'The Round so Far', Cornes lambasted Rachele for failing to walk the walk.

“If you’re going to talk a big game, you want to back it up with your on-field performance and Josh Rachele didn’t,” Cornes said. “He said prior to this match on radio that Port Adelaide fans don’t have many teeth, it’s not even a clever joke … it went on and on, he put up an Instagram story and added fuel to the fire.

“This was the performance, if you’re going to talk a big game, when the ball is there to be won, you’ve got to win it. Right now, Josh Rachele is a laughing stock, he laid one tackle, had 10 disposals and was ineffective.”

Cornes said about Rachele's decision to taunt Port fans: “This was the only moment he had during the game. Look at this, with the game well and truly in the balance, you don’t go over to the fans and do that unless you know the result is in no doubt.

“There’s Ollie Wines after the game (pointing to his teeth). They would be absolutely laughing at Adelaide. In the prior three Showdowns, it’s been Port Adelaide talking, but they were quiet all week, instead it was Darcy Fogarty and Rachele talking a big game but they couldn’t back it up.”