Johnno turned players against me: Akermanis

[LostDoggy]

Source: AFL.com.au

SACKED Western Bulldog Jason Akermanis has fired a handful of parting shots at individuals at his former club, with captain Brad Johnson at the top of his list for not being “open and honest” with him.

The disgraced former Bulldog and Brisbane Lion was left reeling when he was sacked by the Dogs on Wednesday for multiple breaches of club confidentiality.

While he initially labelled the much-loved Johnson as a “wonderful guy”, he indicated the skipper played a large part in instigating the termination of his playing contract.

“I was disappointed early this week when he kept information from me,” Akermanis said on MTR on Thursday morning.

“He wanted to be honest and open yet Brad said in a meeting to the group, ‘Now, if you were to play with a player and this player was going to write negative stuff about you, would you want to play with him?’

Article in full, here (http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/98722/default.aspx)

[Desipura]

Source: AFL.com.au

SACKED Western Bulldog Jason Akermanis has fired a handful of parting shots at individuals at his former club, with captain Brad Johnson at the top of his list for not being “open and honest” with him.

The disgraced former Bulldog and Brisbane Lion was left reeling when he was sacked by the Dogs on Wednesday for multiple breaches of club confidentiality.

While he initially labelled the much-loved Johnson as a “wonderful guy”, he indicated the skipper played a large part in instigating the termination of his playing contract.

“I was disappointed early this week when he kept information from me,” Akermanis said on MTR on Thursday morning.

“He wanted to be honest and open yet Brad said in a meeting to the group, ‘Now, if you were to play with a player and this player was going to write negative stuff about you, would you want to play with him?’

Article in full, here (http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/98722/default.aspx)
"Hmmm let me see who's character would I question Johnno's or Aker's, tough one".

[Stefcep]

"Hmmm let me see who's character would I question Johnno's or Aker's, tough one".

I'd rather make that judgement on the facts-if we ever get them- rather than who is a favourite son and who isn't.

What negative things did Aker actually write about team mates or the club administrators before he got sacked? Seriously, I don't know. If none, then this guy's been sacked for something the playing group suspect he *might* do. Minority Report stuff
.

[Bulldog Revolution]

None of this is worth going into

If you heard Jason this morning he was rambling and clearly sounded like he hadn't processed it all yet

Its natural for him to be a bit disappointed and speak out - but really there isnt much in any of it

[LostDoggy]

I'd rather make that judgement on the facts-if we ever get them- rather than who is a favourite son and who isn't.

What negative things did Aker actually write about team mates or the club administrators before he got sacked? Seriously, I don't know. If none, then this guy's been sacked for something the playing group suspect he *might* do. Minority Report stuff
.

I agree with that. The club also said it was because of behaviours over the last 18 months. Well if it was happening for that long why did the club give him another contract just because he wanted to play again? According to the club he was breaking team rules yet they gave him a new contract? That's what I'm failing to understand in all of this!

[Sedat]

According to the club he was breaking team rules yet they gave him a new contract? That's what I'm failing to understand in all of this!
Wrongly as it turned out, the Dogs simply made the decision to give him another year as they surmised that he was a chance to contribute to a Dogs premiership in 2010. And coming off a great personal season the rationale was logical. Unfortunately the the scope and magnitude of his media commitments and the potential for this issue to conflict with his football role probably wasn't given enough regard, as alluded to by Lantern on another thread.

[LostDoggy]

Wrongly as it turned out, the Dogs simply made the decision to give him another year as they surmised that he was a chance to contribute to a Dogs premiership in 2010. And coming off a great personal season the rationale was logical. Unfortunately the the scope and magnitude of his media commitments and the potential for this issue to conflict with his football role probably wasn't given enough regard, as alluded to by Lantern on another thread.

That is completely hypocritical. The club has been going on about trust and the team comes before the individual. He was making these breaches before he was offered a new contract. Just because he was playing well and the club thought we were premiership chances this year shouldn't have been a reason to give him a new contract if they couldn't trust him. Everyone is saying Aker dug his own grave, but in the end it sounds like a lot of fault is on the club for letting it go on so long and not letting him retire at the end of last season when they couldn't trust him. Instead they let a guy who was already breaking team rules continue to do so right up until the near completion of the 2010 season.

[Sedat]

That is completely hypocritical. The club has been going on about trust and the team comes before the individual. He was making these breaches before he was offered a new contract. Just because he was playing well and the club thought we were premiership chances this year shouldn't have been a reason to give him a new contract if they couldn't trust him. Everyone is saying Aker dug his own grave, but in the end it sounds like a lot of fault is on the club for letting it go on so long and not letting him retire at the end of last season when they couldn't trust him. Instead they let a guy who was already breaking team rules continue to do so right up until the near completion of the 2010 season.
Perhaps the breaches were small enough in 2009 to constitute turning a blind eye to them, and the breaches in 2010 obviously could not.

In pursuit of the ultimate success, clubs will always do what they can to achieve this - hence why Carey wasn't sacked by North in his early 20's but when he was well in decline. Hence why West Coast covered up Cousins' nocturnal habits until they sauted the judges in 2006.

[LostDoggy]

Perhaps the breaches were small enough in 2009 to constitute turning a blind eye to them, and the breaches in 2010 obviously could not.

In pursuit of the ultimate success, clubs will always do what they can to achieve this - hence why Carey wasn't sacked by North in his early 20's but when he was well in decline. Hence why West Coast covered up Cousins' nocturnal habits until they sauted the judges in 2006.

Doesn't that defy the whole notion of team before individual, team rules etc... Doesn't this make the club hypocrites? So if Aker was our leading goalkicker this year and playing awesome footy he wouldn't have been sacked? Sounds like our club and other clubs according to you set double standards, thus making the club at fault in all of this.

[ledge]

I think it was minor before this year when he wasnt in the media so much but due to the paycut he was allowed to follow up more media stuff.
In doing this the club was obviously wrong because the gay article really started the ball rolling bigtime.
But can anyone see into the future?
Being in his last year you would think he would have played a straight bat and gone out on a good note but sadly Aker and the media is good for media but not for his football club.

[bornadog]

Doesn't that defy the whole notion of team before individual, team rules etc... Doesn't this make the club hypocrites? So if Aker was our leading goalkicker this year and playing awesome footy he wouldn't have been sacked? Sounds like our club and other clubs according to you set double standards, thus making the club at fault in all of this.


I'd rather make that judgement on the facts-if we ever get them- rather than who is a favourite son and who isn't.

What negative things did Aker actually write about team mates or the club administrators before he got sacked? Seriously, I don't know. If none, then this guy's been sacked for something the playing group suspect he *might* do. Minority Report stuff
.

Get a grip, he lied to the club about changing the article that went to press on homesexuals in the AFL, a clear breach of his contract. He spoke to Sam Newman about internal issues another breach of confidentiality. There are also other incidents which I cannot make public.

The club gave him plenty of opportunity to win the trust of the players, he didn't want to play AFL, he prefers to be a sensationalist in the press.

For gods sake, why didn't Aker just think about the situation 6 weeks ago, and said to himself, I only have half a season of footy left for the rest of my life, so just shut the f*!k up and play footy, then continue the media career.

Don't blame the club they have been very patient.:mad:

Now lets get on with giving Freo the biggest belting of all time.:)

[Ozza]

Nice one bornadog.

[Sedat]

Doesn't that defy the whole notion of team before individual, team rules etc... Doesn't this make the club hypocrites? So if Aker was our leading goalkicker this year and playing awesome footy he wouldn't have been sacked? Sounds like our club and other clubs according to you set double standards, thus making the club at fault in all of this.
As I said in my previous post, the club must have assessed Aker's previous indiscretions as minor (fair enough too as Aker barely caused a ripple at the club from 2007 to 2009), they then assessed his form and thought he was worth the punt to run around again. They erroneously undercooked the ramifications of Aker's greatly increased media work in making this decision.

The lure of a premiership would have been a factor in this decision without a doubt. Just as it was for Collingwood this week with their action to successfully bury the Dane Swan nightclub altercation story and release a 'user-friendly' version of events to the media, seeing as he is one of their best players.

[Ghost Dog]

None of this is worth going into

If you heard Jason this morning he was rambling and clearly sounded like he hadn't processed it all yet

Its natural for him to be a bit disappointed and speak out - but really there isnt much in any of it

Good point and I agree. The facts are not clear enough anyway.

[Remi Moses]

Get a grip, he lied to the club about changing the article that went to press on homesexuals in the AFL, a clear breach of his contract. He spoke to Sam Newman about internal issues another breach of confidentiality. There are also other incidents which I cannot make public.

The club gave him plenty of opportunity to win the trust of the players, he didn't want to play AFL, he prefers to be a sensationalist in the press.

For gods sake, why didn't Aker just think about the situation 6 weeks ago, and said to himself, I only have half a season of footy left for the rest of my life, so just shut the f*!k up and play footy, then continue the media career.

Don't blame the club they have been very patient.:mad:

Now lets get on with giving Freo the biggest belting of all time.:)

Excellent post. Some of the hysteria being spoken by some supporters is alarming:rolleyes:

[GVGjr]

Don't blame the club they have been very patient.:mad:



Smorgon said today on SEN that there was a number of 'serious' incidents that culminated in the sacking. Exactly how many 'serious' incidents did we let slide?
I would think by the 2nd one the hard decision should have been made.

You might think the club has been patient but it sounds like they should have been more pro-active.

FWIW, I think Eade did a great job in managing Akermanis but I'm not sure the club did the right things at the right time.

[LostDoggy]

I've stepped back in the past 24 hours and had a look at the available information, and come to the conclusion that the club has done the right thing, albeit it's taken way too long and been handled incredibly badly. I've stuck up for Aker in the past few weeks but perhaps I was wrong. There. Said it. I was wrong.


Perhaps the breaches were small enough in 2009 to constitute turning a blind eye to them, and the breaches in 2010 obviously could not.

In pursuit of the ultimate success, clubs will always do what they can to achieve this - hence why Carey wasn't sacked by North in his early 20's but when he was well in decline. Hence why West Coast covered up Cousins' nocturnal habits until they sauted the judges in 2006.

Perhaps the team morale wasn't as bad last year as it is obviously this year. I mean, who knows right? We've all posted endless times on this forum that something was wrong this year, that something is going on behind closed doors that we weren't and still aren't privy to and it was obviously affecting the players.

What if this was it? We hear stories of crass text messages, tell-all books, bagging out team mates — I was upset they sacked Aker when I thought it was due to leaking to Sammy, but it's not. The players are unhappy. Which is a great coincidence, because our previously (<2010) super-tight bunch of players are PLAYING like they're unhappy with each other.

Until we know more, and we may never, I'll go with the club's decision and hope they can honour him correctly instead of sending him to the scrap heap — he is a champion, he does deserve it.


Get a grip, he lied to the club about changing the article that went to press on homesexuals in the AFL, a clear breach of his contract. He spoke to Sam Newman about internal issues another breach of confidentiality. There are also other incidents which I cannot make public.

The club gave him plenty of opportunity to win the trust of the players, he didn't want to play AFL, he prefers to be a sensationalist in the press.

For gods sake, why didn't Aker just think about the situation 6 weeks ago, and said to himself, I only have half a season of footy left for the rest of my life, so just shut the f*!k up and play footy, then continue the media career.

Don't blame the club they have been very patient.:mad:

Now lets get on with giving Freo the biggest belting of all time.:)

We hope. As ever, hope.


Excellent post. Some of the hysteria being spoken by some supporters is alarming:rolleyes:

If I read one more of these posts on here I'm gonna go schizo. This is not a personal attack mate, I'm just using your particular post as an example to represent the dozens I've read already, don't want to quote them all.

The fans you belittle pay as much for their memberships as you do. They're upset. They're entitled to an opinion, they pay for that right, and the constant “we're better supporters than they are” attitude on this forum sometimes really sucks. Horses for courses. We all say to hell with the bandwagoners, but when their money disappears we'll be battling again.

It might be habit for Bulldogs fans, but questioning the club is healthy. It makes for a great club, an accountable club, and that's only ever a good thing. I doubt their opinions are influencing policy so let them voice them.

[Flamethrower]

Jason needs to be responsible for his own actions, rather than looking for others to blame.

[AndrewP6]

I agree with that. The club also said it was because of behaviours over the last 18 months. Well if it was happening for that long why did the club give him another contract just because he wanted to play again? According to the club he was breaking team rules yet they gave him a new contract? That's what I'm failing to understand in all of this!

Exactly... and they gave him repeated warnings (six at the end of '08 wasn't it?)...why the hell did they let it drag out so long? Answer - he was playing well, and like Brisbane, his actions were only penalised as his form dropped. :mad:

[AndrewP6]

Perhaps the breaches were small enough in 2009 to constitute turning a blind eye to them, and the breaches in 2010 obviously could not.

In pursuit of the ultimate success, clubs will always do what they can to achieve this - hence why Carey wasn't sacked by North in his early 20's but when he was well in decline. Hence why West Coast covered up Cousins' nocturnal habits until they sauted the judges in 2006.

They indicated these "breaches" were contributing factors to the "loss of trust", and hence, the termination. Very poor form for them to allow it to drag out like that.

[AndrewP6]

Get a grip, he lied to the club about changing the article that went to press on homesexuals in the AFL, a clear breach of his contract. He spoke to Sam Newman about internal issues another breach of confidentiality. There are also other incidents which I cannot make public.

Nor can the club make them known to Aker, apparently.


The club gave him plenty of opportunity to win the trust of the players, he didn't want to play AFL, he prefers to be a sensationalist in the press. /QUOTE]

And that's one reason I'm so angry with them. They kept giving him warning after warning. They didn't show the leadership required, knowing his history and modus operandi, and do something about it. They let it go on and on and on. Until it became "untenable". He didn't stop - fair enough. But they didn't put things into place to stop him either.

[QUOTE=bornadog;165777]Don't blame the club they have been very patient.:mad:
Now lets get on with giving Freo the biggest belting of all time.:)

Patient, to the point of ineffective (when it came to putting a stop to the 'incidents'.

[Dancin' Douggy]

None of this is worth going into

If you heard Jason this morning he was rambling and clearly sounded like he hadn't processed it all yet

Its natural for him to be a bit disappointed and speak out - but really there isnt much in any of it

Aker always seems to be rambling about stuff he hasn't processed yet.
His major basic flaw in a nutshell.

[Before I Die]

“I was really disappointed in the last couple of days, and certainly in the last week, with how Sam Newman said what he said,” he said.
The above Aker quote says it all for me. It seems that in his mind, telling Sam the details of the private team meeting was ok. The problem according to Aker is that Sam told everybody else. He even goes as far as to say that he can't control Sam.

Well guess what Aker, if you don't tell Sam in the first place, there isn't any problem.

[Bulldog Joe]

Aker loses credibility when he sheets the blame to others.

[Ozza]

I found it absurd that Aker was using this "They told me I was on a clean slate" thing as an argument to back his own case up.

All it did was made me think that he'd been in trouble a fair bit before this year also - and that his behaviour was already an issue if he had to have a contract and 'evidence' (as he put it) to show that past indiscretions are not held against him.

[comrade]

And that's one reason I'm so angry with them. They kept giving him warning after warning. They didn't show the leadership required, knowing his history and modus operandi, and do something about it. They let it go on and on and on. Until it became "untenable". He didn't stop - fair enough. But they didn't put things into place to stop him either.


I'm interested to know what you think should have been done earlier to stop it becoming untenable?

More meetings :o

[AndrewP6]

I'm interested to know what you think should have been done earlier to stop it becoming untenable?

More meetings :o

They should have given him a set number of warnings... 3 strikes maybe. If the pattern of behaviour Rocket referred to had been continuing over 18 months, they should have implemented a sanction (suspension for example) for these breaches. But they just kept warning him. Repeated warnings with no real consequence don't work.

[Dry Rot]

They should have given him a set number of warnings... 3 strikes maybe. If the pattern of behaviour Rocket referred to had been continuing over 18 months, they should have implemented a sanction (suspension for example) for these breaches. But they just kept warning him. Repeated warnings with no real consequence don't work.

My best guess is that there were some legal issues here. I assume that the club was following legal advice and wanted to prevent any legal action by Aker following his termination.

If correct, and given we don't know all the facts nor the legal advice, it is possible the club played all this in a way that satisfied legal requirements, not image/PR etc considerations.

[AndrewP6]

My best guess is that there were some legal issues here. I assume that the club was following legal advice and wanted to prevent any legal action by Aker following his termination.

If correct, and given we don't know all the facts nor the legal advice, it is possible the club played all this in a way that satisfied legal requirements, not image/PR etc considerations.

Probably right...assuming that is the case, and given the alleged breaches over a period of 18 months, they should've closed the chequebook last year.

[Dry Rot]

Probably right...assuming that is the case, and given the alleged breaches over a period of 18 months, they should've closed the chequebook last year.

Yes, but they rolled the dice and got it wrong on another level too - Aker's body wasn't up to it in 2010.

[Mantis]

Yes, but they rolled the dice and got it wrong on another level too - Aker's body wasn't up to it in 2010.

Was his arse too big or too small this year?

[GVGjr]

My best guess is that there were some legal issues here. I assume that the club was following legal advice and wanted to prevent any legal action by Aker following his termination.

If correct, and given we don't know all the facts nor the legal advice, it is possible the club played all this in a way that satisfied legal requirements, not image/PR etc considerations.

Spot on.

[Dry Rot]

Was his arse too big or too small this year?

Whichever made him lose his pace.

[The Coon Dog]

Anyone watch the half time discussion with Johnno during the telecast tonight?

Played a straight bat, hardly surprising.

Super impressed with the Tom Harley comments.

[KT31]

Anyone watch the half time discussion with Johnno during the telecast tonight?

Played a straight bat, hardly surprising.

Super impressed with the Tom Harley comments.

For those of us tht missed them TCD, can we please have a quick run down ?

[The Coon Dog]

For those of us tht missed them TCD, can we please have a quick run down ?

Can't recall it exactly, but he said the club took a strong decision & should be commended for the manner in which they have handled themselves.

[AndrewP6]

Anyone watch the half time discussion with Johnno during the telecast tonight?

Played a straight bat, hardly surprising.

Super impressed with the Tom Harley comments.

Yep, saw it... repeated the "everyone was unanimous" bit, and in response to a question, claimed that if Aker had been in good form, kicking goals etc, that the decision would have been the same.


I love Johnno, but I can't possibly fathom that in an entire organisation, every single person was united in their honest opinion. I just think of my own particular work environment (about 60-odd, all up) and I can't think of one issue we could say we were all 100 percent in agreement on (perhaps more holidays? :) ) I know from experience that when working under a contract, the opinion I gave outwardly is the "company" one, and not necesssarily completely accurate in terms of my actual opinion. I would never have expressed anything deviating from the company line, knowing the possible repercussions. I'm certain players would do the same thing. Nor can I accept that if his form had been good, that this wouldn't have all happened as it has. As I said, I love Johnno as much as anyone, but I didn't buy this.

[Dry Rot]

Yep, saw it... repeated the "everyone was unanimous" bit, and in response to a question, claimed that if Aker had been in good form, kicking goals etc, that the decision would have been the same.


I love Johnno, but I can't possibly fathom that in an entire organisation, every single person was united in their honest opinion. I just think of my own particular work environment (about 60-odd, all up) and I can't think of one issue we could say we were all 100 percent in agreement on (perhaps more holidays? :) ) I know from experience that when working under a contract, the opinion I gave outwardly is the "company" one, and not necesssarily completely accurate in terms of my actual opinion. I would never have expressed anything deviating from the company line, knowing the possible repercussions. I'm certain players would do the same thing. Nor can I accept that if his form had been good, that this wouldn't have all happened as it has. As I said, I love Johnno as much as anyone, but I didn't buy this.

Think you might have missed something - how well is Cooney regarded by the player group?

[AndrewP6]

Think you might have missed something - how well is Cooney regarded by the player group?

Cooney? I was talking about the entire playing group supposedly being 'unanimous' in their view. I'm certain that some of them simply voted with the masses, and toed the company line to preserve their future employment prospects.

[Ghost Dog]

I remember when I was in Highschool. There was this really rough kid who had a pretty bad track record. Anyway, some of the 'supposed' good kids framed him for something he didn't do to save their own skins. He knew nobody would believe him, and they didn't.

Jason has a bad record, but that makes it all the easier for the club to have their way and cast him in a certain light. There are holes in both sides' stories. Personally, I think the club got rid of him because of his form. It was an easy way to dispose of a slightly worn out and squeaky wheel. Leigh Mathews says as much and writes today ( the age ) that it was only a premiership (in 2003 ) that saved him from the axe while at Brisbane.

The club is '100%' unanimous line is BS and we know that as Aker has the text messages of support to prove it. As much as I like Jhonno, I imagine he is feeling the pressure of finals expectation too and his story does not quite stack up. Anyway, happy for someone to have Aker's spot.

Go Dogs!!!!

[The Coon Dog]

Dunno how, but I just got a Twitter thingy from Tom Harley. Says, "Brad Johnson is a star. Has shown amazing leadership throughout this saga filled week for the Dogs. The club is in great hands. Good signs".

[aker39]

Twitter thingy


Tweet

[azabob]

Aker has the text messages of support to prove it. As much as I like Jhonno, I imagine he is feeling the pressure of finals expectation too and his story does not quite stack up. Anyway, happy for someone to have Aker's spot.

Go Dogs!!!!

And we know this text message exists because Aka says so, and he has never lied. :rolleyes:

[Dry Rot]

Think you might have missed something - how well is Cooney regarded by the player group?


Cooney? I was talking about the entire playing group supposedly being 'unanimous' in their view. I'm certain that some of them simply voted with the masses, and toed the company line to preserve their future employment prospects.

My point is that even if you as a player supported Aker, when you saw Cooney ambushed on TFS then you would be behind getting rid of Aker. Unacceptable behaviour.

[LostDoggy]

The club is '100%' unanimous line is BS and we know that as Aker has the text messages of support to prove it. As much as I like Jhonno, I imagine he is feeling the pressure of finals expectation too and his story does not quite stack up. Anyway, happy for someone to have Aker's spot.

Go Dogs!!!!

The ones which nobody has seen publicly?

[AndrewP6]

My point is that even if you as a player supported Aker, when you saw Cooney ambushed on TFS then you would be behind getting rid of Aker. Unacceptable behaviour.

It might come back to my naivety(or bad memory) but I didn't see it as an ambush. I saw it as some questioning on an issue prevalent in the media, which Coons didn't want to talk about - and fair enough.

[Ghost Dog]

The ones which nobody has seen publicly?

You can't prove he doesn't have them. Can't prove that he wasn't visited by two of the players, as he claimed.
neither can you prove that 100% of the players wanted him sacked.

Lets put Aker to rest anyway. I'm not a supporter of his. He was pretty rude the other night. But I don't just eat what the club dishes out at press conferences.

Enough. the end.

[Remi Moses]

How do you know that the text messages from other players
weren't messages of good luck! The club made the right call and the only blunder they made was to bother appearing on that bogon feral love inn The Footy Show. Let the idiot hang himself IMO

[Remi Moses]

Anyone watch the half time discussion with Johnno during the telecast tonight?

Played a straight bat, hardly surprising.

Super impressed with the Tom Harley comments.

Yeah Tom Harley was impressive and Leigh Matthews in the little he says really does say it all

[LostDoggy]

You can't prove he doesn't have them. Can't prove that he wasn't visited by two of the players, as he claimed.
neither can you prove that 100% of the players wanted him sacked.

Lets put Aker to rest anyway. I'm not a supporter of his. He was pretty rude the other night. But I don't just eat what the club dishes out at press conferences.

Enough. the end.

I understand what you are saying, but if they were that damning, i think Aker would've made a bigger deal about the messages.

Anyway, i've had enough of the Aker talk as well.


How do you know that the text messages from other players
weren't messages of good luck! The club made the right call and the only blunder they made was to bother appearing on that bogon feral love inn The Footy Show. Let the idiot hang himself IMO

Sam actually said on TFS that they were texts of condolence, which doesn't mean anything really.

[Ghost Dog]

I understand what you are saying, but if they were that damning, i think Aker would've made a bigger deal about the messages.




Sam actually said on TFS that they were texts of condolence, which doesn't mean anything really.

Well he made a pretty big deal about them on the idiot show.
However, one of the players who he met with,
according to him is out of contract at the end of the season and there is no
way he can go public with their identity.

I highly suspect one is Jarrod Harbrow, who was reported in the H sun as a close friend.
Dale Morris is also said to be one.
But hey, you are right. If, in the meetings, they didn't have the kahoonas to stand up and back Aker then they obviously don't support him fully. What support they have provided is as good as nothing.

[AndrewP6]

If, in the meetings, they didn't have the kahoonas to stand up and back Aker then they obviously don't support him fully.

I'm not sure this is a fair assessment of all personality types. Some simply aren't comfortable putting their hand up to speak up, particularly if their view is opposed by several 'important' figures within the group. Peer pressure isn't only present in the playground. Also, the preservation of one's future employment prospects can't be overstated - a young bloke isn't going to jeopardise his playing contract to speak publicly in support of one player (especially one as polarising as Aker) Matthew Lloyd said as much in today's Hun, noting that in his time at Windy Hill, in these sorts of meeting situations, 5 players would speak and 35 would say nothing.

[Dancin' Douggy]

I'm not sure this is a fair assessment of all personality types. Some simply aren't comfortable putting their hand up to speak up, particularly if their view is opposed by several 'important' figures within the group. Peer pressure isn't only present in the playground. Also, the preservation of one's future employment prospects can't be overstated - a young bloke isn't going to jeopardise his playing contract to speak publicly in support of one player (especially one as polarising as Aker) Matthew Lloyd said as much in today's Hun, noting that in his time at Windy Hill, in these sorts of meeting situations, 5 players would speak and 35 would say nothing.

All this may be true, and maybe it's an imperfect system. And maybe it's hard on certain people, but Aker is the only player, in living memory, to be kicked out of 2 clubs.
And I imagine he would be one of the most confident and outspoken people in this type of situation.
He's hardly the nervous, shy fragile new recruit?
It's just another attempt at deflecting the blame.

[AndrewP6]

All this may be true, and maybe it's an imperfect system. And maybe it's hard on certain people, but Aker is the only player, in living memory, to be kicked out of 2 clubs.
And I imagine he would be one of the most confident and outspoken people in this type of situation.
He's hardly the nervous, shy fragile new recruit?
It's just another attempt at deflecting the blame.

I agree with this - my point was more about the players who didn't put their hand up and speak in support of him. I was trying to give reasons why the system may not work, due to their reluctance, not Aker's.

[Twodogs]

I highly suspect one is Jarrod Harbrow, who was reported in the H sun as a close friend.


Dont believe everything you read. Harbrow wouldnt have been texting Aker with any condolences. Especially not on wednesday.

[Desipura]

Stand by my comment, I would welcome back Brown before Aker. Just wait when Akers book is published, might be during our finals campaign.:mad: