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Aker could relocate to Tasmania
Posted Sep 2, 2010 - 13:16 PM
By Mr Dandalooa
News that Glenorchy Football Club has approached former AFL star Jason Akermanis to play in Tasmania could have many football punters on edge.
The deposed former Western Bulldogs centre of attention has reportedly been offered a small salary in a package deal that could see him land a stable job possible sponsorship deals.
Akermanis was sensationally sacked by the Western Bulldogs in July after the club claimed the he repeatedly breached team confidences and leaked confidential information.
News reports this week say Glenorchy president Steve Allie believes signing the 33-year-old would be a huge boon for local football in the region.
“We’ve had discussions with him and he’s very receptive to us making an offer to him,” he was reported as saying.
“He said ‘I’d love to put something into Tasmanian football’. He believes it’s almost been a forgotten state as far as footy is concerned with AFL players and he’d like to contribute if he can.”
Aker hit back at people for accusing him of publicly naming three AFL players he claims have used illegal drugs.
Fairfax media he named the players while speaking to a group in Mildura earlier this month.
It was also alleged the Brownlow medallist named another player he believed to be gay.
But Akermanis said the allegations were “completely false”.
On 6 September, it was reported that the Western Bulldogs were leading in the race to sign Akermanis for the 2007 season.
On 15 September, Aker confirmed that he wanted to join the Bulldogs and it was then down to the Lions agreeing on the trade price which they did on 9 October, when Brisbane Lions football manager Graeme Allan announced that the team had agreed to trade Akermanis to the Bulldogs.
At the end of the 2008 season, Aker made a statement that he would retire at the end of 2009 when his three year contract expired, however he displayed excellent form at the start of the 2009 season and later retracted his earlier comment about retirement.
Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said he had not ruled out the possibility of extending Akermanis’ contract, depending on his performance for the rest of the season.
He then signed with the Bulldogs for another year, hoping to play in a fourth premiership side.
It is assumed his contract would be for substantially less pay than his previous deal which is estimated at between $350,000 and $400,000 a year.
In July 2010 it was announced that the Western Bulldogs had terminated Akermanis’s contract due to the club’s judgement that the two were on different paths.
