This opinion piece by The Age’s late columnist Robert Walls was first published on May 22, 2009.
It was January 1995. The Brisbane Bears were having their pre-season training camp just north of Noosa. We drove up from Brisbane in private cars and, as coach, I took three teenage kids who were old enough to be on the senior list, but too young to have a licence.
The last lad I picked up was short, ginger-haired and freckle-faced. Jason Akermanis was his name. He lived with his mum who was on her own raising her two boys.
Jason Akermanis was an entertainer.Credit: Andy Zakeli
The year before, as a schoolboy, “Aka” had played Teal Cup for Queensland. He stood out with his exceptional pace. In those days, the Bears could take the pick of the Queensland kids, so Jason joined Michael Voss and Marcus Ashcroft, who had been taken in previous years, as local 17-year-olds.
Aka jumped in the car talked non-stop, but he didn’t really say anything. It was my first introduction to his world. He was different. Did the incessant talk indicate a lack of confidence? With no father in his life, was there an insecurity? Did he feel a need to prove himself?
As a coach, you like your young players to pull their heads in and do a lot of looking and listening. I thought Aka, with his chatter and bravado, would rub a few people the wrong way. And he did. But he was resilient.
In the training camp, he backed himself, took the hits that came his way and didn’t whinge. He was tough and yet fragile as a 17-year-old. Now, on the eve of his 300th senior game, some 15 years on, I doubt much has changed.
In his first season as a Bear, in ’95, we introduced him to senior football via the back pocket. His super speed, endurance and athleticism were not matched by his knowledge of the game and skills. The idea was to keep it simple and the apprenticeship began. As skills and understandings developed, a move to the open spaces of the wing saw the footballer emerge.
Aka trained hard, saw the benchmarks set by the older players and challenged himself to beat them. And he did. But he was naive and tended to speak without thinking.
Being a Brisbane-based player was good for him. Time in different states and the mixing with a variety of people helped develop a broader outlook on life. I remember walking around the Adelaide Oval with young players, explaining the history of the ground. We got to the Don Bradman stand and Jason looked up and said: “I’ve heard about that dude.”
When I left Brisbane to coach Richmond, he turned up unannounced at my office just to say g’day. I was glad to see him, but it confirmed my belief that here was a young man who needed to be loved.
As a footballer, Aka has been outstanding. His ability to read the play and his skills on both sides have no match. He loved the big occasion and delivered. He passed the truest test, grand final day.
That he left Brisbane after three premierships is a bit sad. He fell out with his coach and some senior players, because they felt he put himself above the team and disclosed in house football matters.
I thought a move to Melbourne would be good for him. Being in a football-mad city, where there were dozens of other stars would help him keep perspective. But I wondered about the wisdom of the Western Bulldogs taking a battle-scarred 30-year-old who could be divisive.
After finishing sixth in 2006, the Bulldogs believed that their window of opportunity was about to open. So Aka got a three-year contract.
The thinking was that his exquisite finishing skills would help get the Bulldogs over the line in two or three close encounters a season.
Jason Akermanis performing a handstand at Brisbane’s grand final celebrations.Credit: Dominic O’Brien
Not much happened in 2007. The team slipped to 13th and the star recruit struggled to have any impact out wide on a wing. Things improved in 2008. The team finished third and, closer to goal, Aka gave terrific value.
But there were issues that upset some. The end-of-game handstand was not appreciated, nor were some of his newspaper columns.
This year Aka has met the challenges. After losing three on the trot, question marks were being put on the Dogs. In the past two weeks, he has singlehandedly dragged his team over the line against Adelaide and Melbourne.
A few months back, the Brownlow medallist said this would be his last season. Now he says that if the coach asked him to play on, he would decide at season’s end. It’s a tough call for Rodney Eade and his match committee. In many ways they won’t want to rely on a 33-year-old who can cause problems.
Would Aka play on if asked? You bet he would. In many ways he’s still a big kid who craves attention. But he’s also a bloody good footballer. Aka, I salute you.
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