real footy
The Western Bulldogs have terminated Jason Akermanis’s contract just six weeks before the end of the home-and-away season and with a finals campaign awaiting the club.
President David Smorgan confirmed to The Age that the footballer and the club part company after it had become apparent that the two were on different paths.
Akermanis was told of the club's decision at the Whitten Oval this afternoon after training. He was called to a meeting with club president Smorgan, coach Rodney Eade, football boss James Fantasia and club director Simon Garlick. It is understood the club chief suggested to Akermanis that he announce his retirement — an offer he refused.
Akermanis was said to have been extremely disappointed at the decision.
It is understood that the playing group and the Bulldogs coaches felt strongly that the veteran former Brisbane Lion did not consider the club a priority and were united in their belief that Akermanis woud only prove a distraction as the Bulldogs headed toward September still hopeful of a top-four position. The fifth-placed Bulldogs play four-placed Fremantle on Sunday at Etihad Stadium in a crucial encounter.
‘‘He hasn’t earnt the trust of the group,’’ a source told The Age.
‘‘It’s a pattern of behaviour. You can’t put it down to one thing. It has just gone on for so long. And we don’t want it to keep going.
‘‘It’s a sad day because he’s a marvellous footballer and he’s been a good contributor to our footy club, but given recent events and the continual breaches, we just decided that for the betterment of the football club going forward we need to make a stand, and we have.’’
Although coach Rodney Eade told the media earlier today that Akermanis was ‘‘in the mix for selection’’ this week and that his form had been ‘‘reasonable’’, it is understood the decision had already been made but had not become official. Eade had noted that there were still some boxes to be ticked.
Akermanis was suspended by the club in June after a furore eminating from a column in which he advised gay AFL footballers to stay in the closet.
Last week, The Age revealed that the Brownlow Medallist had again attracted the ire of his teammates and coaches after he had revealed private details of a player meeting to the media.
For the second time, the 33-year-old departs his AFL club amid acrimony and before the end of his contract.
Akermanis has been on a collision course with the Western Bulldogs for several months and not for the first time after ramping up his media commitments to include a daily breakfast radio spot with along with his lucrative Herald Sun newspaper column.
