Monday Feature: Aker in a dark closet
Jason Akermanis is in serious risk of forced early retirement. After a slump in form and severe backlash from the media and Western Bulldog club officials after his outspoken comments on gay football players, Aker has fallen into a deep and sinking hole.
In his article to the Herald Sun on the 20th May, Akermanis spoke candidly on the issue of homosexuality in sport, namely AFL. In reference to the potential of a player “coming out” to his team mates and the football world, Akermanis said that “the world of AFL footy is not ready for it.
“To come out is unnecessary for a lot of reasons. Imagine the publicity associated with a current player admitting he's gay. It would be international news and could break the fabric of a club.
“Football clubs are very different environments. Locker room nudity is an everyday part of our lives and unlike any other work place. I believe it would cause discomfort in that environment should someone declare himself gay.”
The comments made headlines immediately, prompting quick responses from a number of AFL officials and coaches. The spot light then fell on Rodney Eade who assured the AFL that Akermanis would be reprimanded accordingly via a strict media ban and a hefty fine or suspension.
For Eade, whose team fell short to Essendon by nine points on the weekend, the issue is a matter of significant importance. While Eade made no suggestion that his team’s lack of form this weekend had any connection with the Akermanis saga, there is no denying that the Bulldogs’ veteran has brought unwanted attention to the club’s 2010 campaign.
However, it seems that negative publicity is the least of Aker’s worries, with the Brownlow Medallist experiencing a dangerous rut of bad form.
Eade made comment after the Bulldogs’ win over North Melbourne in round nine that Akermanis was struggling to develop consistency.
"Obviously Jason didn't play well on the weekend, but his previous two were OK, the Sydney game (the previous week) he was probably seven out of 10, so it was not too bad.”
So far in 2010, Akermanis has averaged 15.2 disposals, 4.7 contested possessions, and 10 uncontested possessions a game, and has kicked only two goals for the season.
"More to the point he's 33 now, he hasn't got the pace he had and there's not many players at 33 who have the pace they had.”
Perhaps it is time for Rodney Eade to heed his own justifications and recognize that Aker’s time is almost up. The Bulldogs’ current list is full of blaze and premiership potential and the next few years become vital to launching themselves into Grand Final History. However, football potential is a fizzling torch and Akermanis is a blowing wind.
Reconfigure, reconstruct, rebuild.
In his article to the Herald Sun on the 20th May, Akermanis spoke candidly on the issue of homosexuality in sport, namely AFL. In reference to the potential of a player “coming out” to his team mates and the football world, Akermanis said that “the world of AFL footy is not ready for it.
“To come out is unnecessary for a lot of reasons. Imagine the publicity associated with a current player admitting he's gay. It would be international news and could break the fabric of a club.
“Football clubs are very different environments. Locker room nudity is an everyday part of our lives and unlike any other work place. I believe it would cause discomfort in that environment should someone declare himself gay.”
The comments made headlines immediately, prompting quick responses from a number of AFL officials and coaches. The spot light then fell on Rodney Eade who assured the AFL that Akermanis would be reprimanded accordingly via a strict media ban and a hefty fine or suspension.
For Eade, whose team fell short to Essendon by nine points on the weekend, the issue is a matter of significant importance. While Eade made no suggestion that his team’s lack of form this weekend had any connection with the Akermanis saga, there is no denying that the Bulldogs’ veteran has brought unwanted attention to the club’s 2010 campaign.
However, it seems that negative publicity is the least of Aker’s worries, with the Brownlow Medallist experiencing a dangerous rut of bad form.
Eade made comment after the Bulldogs’ win over North Melbourne in round nine that Akermanis was struggling to develop consistency.
"Obviously Jason didn't play well on the weekend, but his previous two were OK, the Sydney game (the previous week) he was probably seven out of 10, so it was not too bad.”
So far in 2010, Akermanis has averaged 15.2 disposals, 4.7 contested possessions, and 10 uncontested possessions a game, and has kicked only two goals for the season.
"More to the point he's 33 now, he hasn't got the pace he had and there's not many players at 33 who have the pace they had.”
Perhaps it is time for Rodney Eade to heed his own justifications and recognize that Aker’s time is almost up. The Bulldogs’ current list is full of blaze and premiership potential and the next few years become vital to launching themselves into Grand Final History. However, football potential is a fizzling torch and Akermanis is a blowing wind.
Reconfigure, reconstruct, rebuild.
