Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis says Jack Riewoldt broke a footballing cardinal sinJon Ralph
Herald-Sun
May 24, 2014 BROWNLOW Medallist Jason Akermanis says Jack Riewoldt broke one of football’s cardinal rules by criticising Damien Hardwick’s game plan.
Akermanis said he will always regret questioning Leigh Matthews’ game plan in Round 1, 2006, with the coach livid at his triple premiership star.
The troublesome Akermanis was sacked by the club mid-year, and believes that betrayal of trust was a key issue.
Matthews said this week Hardwick should not have gone public with his issues over Riewoldt, but also wishes he had been stronger with his own discipline of Akermanis.
“This situation with Jack is so similar to my own (with Matthews),’’ Akermanis said.
“The players are the entertainers and without them the game is literally nothing. But as far as looking back on what was a really silly move to talk publicly about Leigh’s game plan, it didn’t help our relationship at all.
“I questioned what we were doing with the game plan in Round 1, 2006 against Geelong and I was gone by July.
“It gives you an indication how quickly relationships can sour. If you want to talk about (the game plan), just do it one-on-one. Talk to the coach and say, “What do you think about this?”.
“As bad as the feedback is, it’s good as a coach to know what your players think too.”
Riewoldt again apologised for his comments about the game plan on Wednesday, saying he had “copped his right whack”.
“I’m just looking forward to playing footy again,’’ he said.
Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt has shied away from the media following the criticism he received from coach Damien Hardwick on Thursday.
Riewoldt has been selected by Richmond despite warnings about his place in the side, and apologised to the coaching staff on Thursday.
His future at the club is not believed to be shaky given he last year signed a lucrative contract extension through to the end of 2016.
Riewoldt sacrificed hundreds of thousands of dollars by passing up a Fremantle offer.
But with Richmond 2-6 and playing a GWS side approaching full strength there is massive pressure on the club to defeat the lowly Giants.
Akermanis said it was hard to be an individual in footy, with ex-Carlton footballer Brendan Fevola also questioning the restrictions on Riewoldt.
“History will prove I was correct in what I said about Leigh’s game plan but the way I did it is one thing I want to take back and redo,’’ Akermanis aid.
“Even my ghost writer said, “Are you sure?” And I said, “It will be right. It was a bad decision and reading Jack’s comments it did remind me of 2006 so much.”
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/brownlow-medallist-jason-akermanis-says-jack-riewoldt-broke-a-footballing-cardinal-sin/story-fndv8t7m-1226929161416