Lions fume at Aker

[Mantis]

Fall out from yesterdays article....

Lions fume at Aker

Three years after they sacked him in similar fashion, the Brisbane Lions last night proved they still don't know how to take Jason Akermanis. The Lions called an extraordinary press conference to complain about comments he made in yesterday's Herald Sun.

In what was seen by many as a precious exercise, the Lions called the conference, which had minimal attendance, to have a crack at Akermanis for taking "pot shots" at members of their club.

The conference was announced in an email sent to media in which the Lions could not even bring themselves to refer to Akermanis by name. Instead they said they wanted to respond to comments made by a "current Western Bulldogs player".

Earlier, the club had contacted the Bulldogs to register their anger formally, an action believed to have been received with raised eyebrows, even near-disbelief.

Akermanis, who will play his 300th AFL game tomorrow, would not comment last night on the development.

In yesterday's Herald Sun, he made observations of former teammates Justin Leppitsch, Michael Voss and Chris Scott.

He also said Lions chairman Tony Kelly had a "man crush" on Voss, who is in his first year as Brisbane coach.

Voss and Lions chief executive Michael Bowers said last night Akermanis's views were a "pack of lies".

Leppitsch, on whom Akermanis heaped most criticism, is now an assistant to Voss, but chose not to speak at the press conference.

Kelly complained to Bulldogs counterpart David Smorgon yesterday, while Bowers contacted Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose to voice his disgust.

It is understood Smorgon, Rose and Dogs football manager James Fantasia will meet this morning to discuss the issue.

Three years ago, the Lions effectively sacked Akermanis in a press release issued in response to him saying in the Herald Sun that there was just a "5 per cent" chance he would be at the club beyond 2006.

Akermanis stirred the pot yesterday by claiming a seemingly petty Leppitsch didn't attend his wedding eight years ago because "he didn't agree with my (Brownlow) success at the end of that (2001) season".

His allegations hit a raw nerve up north.

The Lions last night would not rule out the possibility that Leppitsch would take legal action against Akermanis.

Bowers said Brisbane would not accept being ridiculed in the media.

"We won't tolerate those pot shots made at the club and at our key people," he said.

"Many people, when they read those comments, may just dismiss them, but to the Brisbane Lions it's much more than that.

"It goes to the core of who we are, it goes to our reputation and it goes to our people, key people associated with the club.

"We express our unqualified support for those people, and we express our disappointment in comments that were made.

"(That) those comments, inaccurate comments, (are) made by any player in the AFL competition, is just totally inappropriate."

[LostDoggy]

If it's "unwritten" then the law isn't broken. We'll see if anything is done about this. I reckon Sam Newman would tell the Lions to HARDEN the **** up!

[The Coon Dog]

A bit precious there the Lions I think. If they said nada & let it go through to the keeper, we'd all have forgotten about it by now.

[Go_Dogs]

A bit precious there the Lions I think. If they said nada & let it go through to the keeper, we'd all have forgotten about it by now.

Agreed.

I'm not up on defamation law, but my initial impression is there is not really a case to answer for Akermanis in regards to what was said about Leppitsch. Seems to me like the Lions are the ones who are very bitter.

[Sockeye Salmon]

It sounds like the issue with that quack of a doctor they had with Jose Romero.

Their doctor said a player was "bleeding profusely" after being scratched by Jose.

"Bleeding profusely" is usually reserved for things like car accidents and major, life threatening accidents, rarely a fingernail scratch.

Jose called him a quack and they sued. Fairly sure it cost Jose a fair bit to.


I always thought the truth was a defense against defamation

[Sedat]

Yawn - hilariously overblown response by Brisbane. He's off to a reasonable start, but Voss has yet to prove to the football public that he will be a long-term success as AFL coach, and as Aker has rightly observed, the job was basically handed to him on a platter. The sound of insecurity from up north is deafening.

[Mofra]

A bit precious there the Lions I think. If they said nada & let it go through to the keeper, we'd all have forgotten about it by now.

Spot on. It seems Aker has moved on far more than a few of the Brsibane Lions brethren.

[LostDoggy]

What a load of BS, that is precious. I hope the dogs dont drag Aker back on this, he really didnt do anything wrong.

[LostDoggy]

Bit childish and selfish by Aker. He will never learn.

Not what the club needs on the eve of playing Geelong.

[LostDoggy]

La-ame.

[LostDoggy]

Suspect its more to do with the extremely unflattering recollections Acker made about Leppitsch- they're all closing ranks because the big guy is hurting, and is assistant coach...

[G-Mo77]

Want a tissue Lions. Sheesh!

[LostDoggy]

Suspect its more to do with the extremely unflattering recollections Acker made about Leppitsch- they're all closing ranks because the big guy is hurting, and is assistant coach...

Well, the reality is you reap what you sow. His actions to not attend a friend's wedding because he was essentially jealous about his friend winning a Brownlow is as low (no pun intended) as it gets. Shows the character of the man, and if he's so thin-skinned as to be offended by its revelation, perhaps he should have thought about it prior to committing to such an ordinary decision.

Wanker.

[mighty_west]

Suspect its more to do with the extremely unflattering recollections Acker made about Leppitsch- they're all closing ranks because the big guy is hurting, and is assistant coach...

Did Leppa ever want to take further action against Buddy on THAT sledge in Buddy's first season?.."i'd rather be dead than red".....

OUCH!!!, and from an 18 year old!

[Twodogs]

http://podsentral.com/node/732