Greystache
04-10-2011, 10:40 AM
JASON Akermanis has offered his unique set of skills to Greater Western Sydney, although it's an offer that seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
The former Brisbane and Western Bulldogs star, 34, has courted the AFL's general manager of game development David Matthews, GWS general manager of football operations Graeme Allan and GWS coach Kevin Sheedy without sparking any positive interest.
Matthews, his first point of contact, referred him to Allan, who has exchanged text messages with him.
Sheedy is yet to respond.
"I'm saying to them 'if you think those blokes (experienced quartet James McDonald, Luke Power, Dean Brogan and Chad Cornes) can do it, I can guarantee I'll do it just as well, if not better'," Akermanis told the Herald Sun.
"It's a very good match, that's all I'm saying. There's not a lot of losers, there's a lot of winners."
Akermanis, the 2001 Brownlow Medal winner whose AFL career ended with the Bulldogs in 2010, said he was perfectly suited to GWS's interests.
He played 12 games with various clubs in Victoria and Tasmania this year, including Glenorchy.
"I played some good footy this year."
In a message to Allan two weeks ago, he said: "Hi Gubby, I am still playing and in good condition. I am the best in the business for game-sense and promotion.
"Give me a ring if you want to talk serious about getting the biggest drawcard in the game."
Allan replied: "I will talk to the people concerned and come back to you."
To which Aker sent: "I thought you were 'the people concerned'? Let me know. You need bums on seats. Look no further."
Allan refused to get involved last night. "I'm not saying anything."
Sheedy received the same message.
Akermanis tried to force a response from the veteran coach at the Brownlow Medal function during his blue-carpet interviews before the count.
As Sheedy scurried past, Akermanis called: "Where's my contract?"
"I'd love to give it a crack. I haven't had the chance to finish my footy the way I'd like. If they're going to hire blokes who are 35 (McDonald) ... he's not going to play better or lead better (than I am).
"No offence to him, but no one knows who he is. What do you want in GWS in the first year? People to come and watch the games, on-field leadership, that's what you need.
"I've only had a year out of the game, a break can be a good thing. They're hiring blokes that can't play, here's one who can. I'm offering. Just make a decision and say 'yay or nay'."
As entertaining as it might be, the answer, directly or indirectly, is going to be "nay".
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jason-akermanis-tells-gws-im-your-man/story-fn69a32t-1226157578699
The former Brisbane and Western Bulldogs star, 34, has courted the AFL's general manager of game development David Matthews, GWS general manager of football operations Graeme Allan and GWS coach Kevin Sheedy without sparking any positive interest.
Matthews, his first point of contact, referred him to Allan, who has exchanged text messages with him.
Sheedy is yet to respond.
"I'm saying to them 'if you think those blokes (experienced quartet James McDonald, Luke Power, Dean Brogan and Chad Cornes) can do it, I can guarantee I'll do it just as well, if not better'," Akermanis told the Herald Sun.
"It's a very good match, that's all I'm saying. There's not a lot of losers, there's a lot of winners."
Akermanis, the 2001 Brownlow Medal winner whose AFL career ended with the Bulldogs in 2010, said he was perfectly suited to GWS's interests.
He played 12 games with various clubs in Victoria and Tasmania this year, including Glenorchy.
"I played some good footy this year."
In a message to Allan two weeks ago, he said: "Hi Gubby, I am still playing and in good condition. I am the best in the business for game-sense and promotion.
"Give me a ring if you want to talk serious about getting the biggest drawcard in the game."
Allan replied: "I will talk to the people concerned and come back to you."
To which Aker sent: "I thought you were 'the people concerned'? Let me know. You need bums on seats. Look no further."
Allan refused to get involved last night. "I'm not saying anything."
Sheedy received the same message.
Akermanis tried to force a response from the veteran coach at the Brownlow Medal function during his blue-carpet interviews before the count.
As Sheedy scurried past, Akermanis called: "Where's my contract?"
"I'd love to give it a crack. I haven't had the chance to finish my footy the way I'd like. If they're going to hire blokes who are 35 (McDonald) ... he's not going to play better or lead better (than I am).
"No offence to him, but no one knows who he is. What do you want in GWS in the first year? People to come and watch the games, on-field leadership, that's what you need.
"I've only had a year out of the game, a break can be a good thing. They're hiring blokes that can't play, here's one who can. I'm offering. Just make a decision and say 'yay or nay'."
As entertaining as it might be, the answer, directly or indirectly, is going to be "nay".
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jason-akermanis-tells-gws-im-your-man/story-fn69a32t-1226157578699