The fact that I got to kick the footy with Jason when he came to my local primary school in the mid-2000’s, when no other classmate would partner up with me, is so amazing to me, and I can look back 20 years later, and be proud of something so fantastic, and have it locked deep in my memory for this long. Jason, if you see this, thank you for making my childhood so incredible. I can’t believe I remember all this after such a long time. The things I would give to meet you again and thank you for everything and maybe even kick the footy again, like we did that day. ❤️🙏 You are seriously one of the best, mate.
jason, if you ever read this comment, you are such a great and honest fella. a straight shooter, brave, with a big heart and much grey matter. i hope you get to return to the media proper and/or become an afl coach someday. love ya mate. from a kangas supporter.
....it has taken many years to hear you, and then, to again really appreciate you Jason... one of the truly greats...thank you ...you weren't bad either Mike....🙂
Great respect for Aker. We need more people like him in our world. Keep speaking your mind and stop following the crowd who are too gutless to speak their minds
Aker is right about the fans - even now in 2023, if you go to an AFL game or even local game, you’ll hear “fans” say things to players that I would never even say to a dog. Toxic, nasty “fans” are still alive and kicking today.
Love Aker, was a star at Brisbane in a team of them. His media work in Brisbane was also great fun when the Lions were at their best. The man obviously has a talent for the media, it is a pity that the things that made him such a success, outspoken contrarian opinions, have ultimately caused his downfall, it appears from the cheap seats in fan land that the AFL has blackballed him, a great pity. There are without doubt current media talking heads that could not hold his jock strap but still get a gig.
Even Leigh Matthews knew that once Jason Akermanis stepped onto a football field he was all about the team and football. The outside distractions really mean't nothing. I'd love to see Western Bulldogs game footage of him not trying or doing his role, because it doesn't exist. His mistake in the media was that he told the truth, and the AFL Mafia didn't like it.
Bomber supporter here lol he created a lot of pain on the field for his opposition and opposition supporters, though this interview and his ability to be humble, honest, admittance of learn from life’s mistakes as far as my 50 year life has shown are the hallmarks of at least a meaningful life what ever field or vocation you work or live in, well Akker well done mate role model in a very true sense in accordance with the proverb quote from a previous commenter take care never change .......as if you need to be told that
I was Akers caddy, at a Golf tournament at Sorrento, in the early 2000s, absolute honour, Aker, many blessings to you Brother. My regret was he landed a good flag shot, the crowd went wild, I should have told him to do a Hand Stand, then I would have run in to the crowd with a hat. Hahaha
Great interview. It’s clear that Aker sometimes engaged his brain before his mouth. At least he’s big enough to face up to his mistakes. That he’s denied of media opportunities in retirement seems ridiculous, considering the transgressions of some other former players and where they sit post career. And to think Aker was running around at Brisbane for $350-380k. I know it was years ago but that was way unders for a player of his ability - especially considering Brisbane had an extra $600,000 p/a in their cap back then. The bloke sacrificed plenty for team success.
This was a really great interview. I think Akermanis is a very intelligent person, far more than people understand. He also has a great attitude towards life, and he was a brilliant and very entertaining footballer. If anyone has seen the Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet, he also looked a bit like that here which made me laugh.
Straightn shooter Acker and one of the AFL greatest players ever. You did it your way, and walked the talk. And people that say it as it is are never liked in the false world we all live in. Thanks Acker for the memories and your attitude to life . Take care mate.
And he is right. Playing AFL footy is just like any other job. You dont have many friends in the workforce and when people move on you lose contact with employees.
Shame all his off field stuff tainted his legacy. Saw Aker play live a few times and his ability to read a game wad better than anyone I have ever seen. Was always two plays ahead. One of the bes small fowrards/midfielders of the modern era.
The "progressive" flogs in the media hated Aker. They want his personality without letting him have an opinion. Just like Mr 'Everyone Please Like Me "Bob" Murphy'. Stuff them. Honest bloke, tough as nails, best two foot I've seen, good on him.
Rate Aka along with Hird as good if not the best ever! Throw in Gary Ablett snr and Carey uve got the best handful of players ever maybe Wanganeen also! Dusty Martin Gary jnr n there u have them
What a champ he was ong with a handful of others Hird Wanganeen Carey Dusty Martin Gary Jnr don't think I've overlooked any modern day player maybe his coach Mathews n there u have the very best ever! Aka u were simply among the greatest bolayers in a vhandful of the best ever 6!
Top interview, top player and Aker has such a colourful personality. I don't agree with a lot of what he says but man oh man, such a great enigma for sports. So many players behave like robots programmed to always be painfully PC, but you could never tame this Lion ;)
He was one of the Great Characters of the game and unique. Not to mention superb player. Hard to think the AFL, wouldn't let him work in the industry after he retired. Bulldogs were a bunch of shiters to treat him like that, that group of players never got anywhere. And in the end Karma got Bob Murphy, when he missed the GF...lol Karma is a bitch Bob.
As a Bulldogs supporter I loved having him at the club and I actually was sad when he left. What happened at Brisbane was sad too, one of the only ones left who tell it like it is and its sad in my view that hes not getting any gigs because the AFL black balled him. It has to be said as well, no die hard Dogs fan will want to hear this as they all believe what the club does is gospel, but what happened to Jake Stringer in 2017 kind of adds weight to those comments about how he was treated at the Bulldogs.
Had to be jealousy from Robert Murphy towards Aker, as well as the fact that he didn't like some of the hard truths that Aker dished out to his club and his clique.
Hes in my top 3 . Keep being your own bloke aker. When others have achieved what you have , then they can talk all they want. Cant see many having anything to say.
Akker l reckon u r a top bloke . 👏 A sensational player. I am glad you mentioned coaching 4U . Because listening 2U l thought gee this guy would make a gr8 coach . What about a skills coach 🤔 at VFL Level at the Bomber's. There should always be Personalities at Clubs . Leigh Matthews would be a prick of a bloke 2 get on the wrong side of. Jason is a very complex personality. But solid in his Delivery & Intelligence
Society and footy teams used to accomodate characters like aker. Passion and creativity and talent abound in some, each team needs a spark. Clubs make a safe space for them. Leigh was reaching the end aker was stale but what then happened at footscray was dumb and wrong. Leading group my arse. Aker theyre forgotten youll be remembered.
@boganus699 This marks a turning point in your Open Mike contributions -it's actually very funny. You've set off a conspiracy theory ...you're a comedian who's been planted by the AFL or Mike Sheahan. Keep up the funny work! (trust you liked the Like)
He was different, people don’t like the ones that march to a different drum. People are threatened by that, I didn’t mind him at all on the field. I feel a bit sorry for him, he was just trying to be his own individual man.
The media suck.So what exactlly did he do wrong apart from have his opinion which is not against the law the bloke went through some tough times didn't seem like he had much support back then should of played for carlton they would of taken care of ya suprised he even went to the bulldogs and 100% correct about drugs at west coast.
Unbelievable. Mike crucifies Aker over some of his off field comments, basically glosses over one of the great careers. Lets criminal druggie Trent Crioad off “well, you had a few bumps along the road.” Aker worth 5 whinging Bob Murphys as a player.
Was right about alot of things thats why they didn't like him. demetriou hung out with Ricky Nixon and snorted just as much coke as any players, was probably nervous Aka might let the cat out of the bag.
why cant he just control himself like a human being you can still say things but in a diplomatic way jason has no idea how to talk thats why his always being misunderstood
I remember jezza when he signed a card for me ar stkilda in 1980 with Trevor barker I remember speaking to Peter bouzastow a few years ago and the passion he had for footy still akermanis came under that category. All three had ukranium heritage and were mercurial elite and produced in the big moments when there teams needed them to. All three men are beautiful souls and have given us beautiful memories even if stkilda was on the receiving end. Us who are the historians of the great game the real footy will always remember these 3 players. Akermanis you have joined your ukranium brothers as legends of the game and nobody can take that away from you. Thanks for the memories and for being yourself
scraping the bottom of the barrel. met him up in queensland in 1994 when i was a 12 year old during summer at a local swimming pool. he was there with barry stoneham, justin madden, john rantall, greg williams, tony shaw, leigh matthews, mark ricciuto, jason akermanis, nick maxwell, david rhys-jones, neil balme, andrew mcleod, simon black, david schwarz, anthony koutoufides, mal michael, andrew demetriou, sam newman, matthew richardson, nathan buckley, rene kink, damian monkhorst, tony liberatore, keith greig, royce hart, bob murphy, stewart loewe, wayne schwass, kevin bartlett, alastair lynch, gavin wanganeen, corey mckernan, robert walls, peter sumich, denis pagan, jason dunstall, john kennedy jr, bob skilton, neil kerley, wayne johnston and phil carman. they were all acting like total flogs.
