Jason Akermanis faces huge pay cut to play in 2010

Damian Barrett and Mark Stevens | August 19, 2009 12:00am

JASON Akermanis's heart is telling him to play on next year, but he will have to take a hefty pay cut to do so.

Akermanis may have to consider a contract at the Western Bulldogs worth half the $400,000-plus he received this year.

Salary cap problems are weighing on the Bulldogs, who are warming to Akermanis playing a fourth year for the club.

The cut would take Akermanis to below the average AFL player's wage (about $230,000).

Akermanis said last night he was not thinking of his hip pocket.

"If I play on, it will be because I love it, and right now I do love it," he said.

"And only when I stop feeling that love and football becomes a chore will that change my outlook. Yes, money is part of the equation, but it is not all of it."

Akermanis is weighing up options in the media, which would be considerably more lucrative.

The Bulldogs are already fighting to keep full-back Brian Lake and are disadvantaged because they cannot afford to pay the entire $555,000 allowed next year for Additional Services Agreements, money that falls outside a club's salary cap.



Rest of article...