Hey, I don't crash cars
Damian Barrett
Herald-Sun
July 20, 2006 12:00am
JASON Akermanis says there is a mere 5 per cent chance he will remain a Lion, and claims he doesn't need to prove his character to prospective bidders.
Akermanis told the Herald Sun Melbourne was the only city in which he was contemplating living from next season.
A day after West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner wrote off his and two unoccupied cars in a high-speed, alcohol-fuelled crash, Akermanis said those contemplating recruiting him should put in context his perceived flaws.
"Well, others break the law; I give an opinion. Some drive cars and crash in to other cars and get charged with a high blood reading; I say what I think," Akermanis said.
The 2001 Brownlow medallist said football people, including Richmond's Nathan Brown, who described him as "an unstable character", were wrong to question whether he would jell with a new club.
"If I am unstable because I have an opinion, then let's put every coach and everyone in the game who has an opinion in an asylum," Akermanis said.
"Because I don't go out and break the law and do other things that unfortunately other players do, that's what I cop. It is quick and easy to say that about me."
Akermanis said chances of him remaining in Brisbane next year were "under 5 per cent" and despite being 30 in February, he expected to play for another five years.
"Hypothetically, if we get to that situation where I leave, I will have the best 30-year-old football body in the competition, and I would want three years to show that new club immediate loyalty," Akermanis said.
"I believe I will be playing for five more years. Clubs may be thinking, well, a 26-year-old can give us five years and 26 is better than 30. The quality you will get from me is not going to change from what it has been.
"I have shown this year I haven't lost a yard of pace; if anything I am getting quicker. I haven't lost any fitness. I certainly haven't lost any skill or my ability to read the game and any given passage of play."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,19847921-11088,00.html