Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

I've been in situations where a person's presence has become so toxic it was unbearable.
Regardless of how talented they were or how 'fair' you were trying to be, the person's very presence became almost palpably cancerous.
I'm guessing this is what eventually happened with Aker.
I thought it would be great to have him for the finals, especially the Grand Final but if the situation had become toxic the whole club would have suffered.
Leigh Matthews and Rodney Eade aren't idiots.
I think our playing group is very stable and mature.
I can only back them on this decision.
Loved Aker when he was good. But......................

On the other hand, We don't know the full story. We have all been in situations ( Share houses, jobs ) where two or three other people seemed to 'side' against us just because we saw things a bit different.

That being said, I liked Rocket's comments about not needing to be liked.
And can you imagine going into team meetings, not being 100% sure that things would stay in house? That would be hard as a team.

Point: In an age where players are traded like horses, loyalty to the jumper still means an awful lot. In all of his articles, Jason never really professed much of a gratefulness or love for the Bulldogs. Not that I read anyway. Anyone care to disagree? would be happy to read one, if it exists.

Players may not have to like each other, but you have to love the club. Or what is the point?

[Remi Moses]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

Do we know this? That's the first I've heard of it. Got any details?

I think Mark Robinson quoted it happening! Who'd be surprised,all I'll say is I've never seen Rocket so angry!!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

Just watched 360 on Fox, they were saying the club has been waiting 6 weeks for Legal Advice to cover them for an unfair dismissal case and they have been building a case to sack him ever since round 11. They got the advice back giving them the all clear.

I'm still shocked, I don't know why as we could all see it just getting worse. Just wish things were different, loved watching him in the red white and blue. I wish him good luck and thanks, but I'd almost hate to see him shut up now, he might as well lose the plot as it would be such a waste to see him finally put a sock in it!

Was impressed with the way the guys spoke in the press conference, we are lucky to have them running the club. Really hoping this sparks us to really give it a shake now, we have the cattle all that was missing was between the ears. Here's hoping this was it.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

Point: In an age where players are traded like horses, loyalty to the jumper still means an awful lot. In all of his articles, Jason never really professed much of a gratefulness or love for the Bulldogs. Not that I read anyway. Anyone care to disagree? would be happy to read one, if it exists.

Players may not have to like each other, but you have to love the club. Or what is the point?

I think loyalty isn't nearly as big a factor (in general AFL terms) as it once was. Jordy left because we didn't patch up his relationship...Wallet left 'cos we were too poor, Judas left, because, well, he's Judas...over at Windy Hill, Nanny McPhee left to go to Freo (again!)...and we're soon to see players leaving clubs left, right and centre, as GC and GWS come calling.. call me a cynic, but I think loyalty has taken a beating in recent times. By and large, the Dogs appear to have loyal types. Then again, GC and GWS loom large...

[LostDoggy]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

According to the Hun our odds for the flag have just gone from $5 to $6 on Sportsbet since Akers departure!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

According to the Hun our odds for the flag have just gone from $5 to $6 on Sportsbet since Akers departure!

My mate had 200 on us at lunch at 5.50....

[chef]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

We all work with someone like that. We don't all have the luxury of banding together and ousting them!

In my industry we do. You don't have to like everyone but we all have to be pulling in the same direction.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

Just watched 360 on Fox, they were saying the club has been waiting 6 weeks for Legal Advice to cover them for an unfair dismissal case and they have been building a case to sack him ever since round 11. They got the advice back giving them the all clear.

IF thats true then IMO the club has lost some integrity for jerking the guy around at Willi, stringing him along with the promise that he had a chance to get back into the team, when in actual fact he had no chance no matter what he did. Thats just disgusting. And it also means that everything else that is supposed to have happened since the gay footballers article is just BS, and that Aker's been sacked for an opinion-piece on gay footballers. If true then that just puts the club in a terrible light.

[cinder]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

Yeah - this is not good. I am worried about the damage to the club and its reputation. A lot of people are not happy about it. It is very easy for Aker to play the sympathy card to the public because we don't and probably never will know the full story.

The pressure is really on the team and coaching staff to perform for the rest of the season and particularly the finals. If we crash and burn I don't think we'll attract a lot of sympathy from the AFL community. Fingers crossed.

[Mantis]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

IF thats true then IMO the club has lost some integrity for jerking the guy around at Willi, stringing him along with the promise that he had a chance to get back into the team, when in actual fact he had no chance no matter what he did. Thats just disgusting. And it also means that everything else that is supposed to have happened since the gay footballers article is just BS, and that Aker's been sacked for an opinion-piece on gay footballers. If true then that just puts the club in a terrible light.

It isn't true.

At the initial meeting some 6 weeks back it was asked of Aker to give up his media work for the rest of the season to show that he was fully commited to the cause, but he didn't want to and very firmly stood his ground. This disappointed the club because it felt to them that Aker was holding them to ransom and that everything was on his terms .ie. 'I am going to continue to do my media work and continue to play footy and there isn't anything you can do to stop me'

However as a compromise Aker stood down from his media commitments for 3 weeks and was told to toe the line for the rest of the season and to let his footy to do the talking, but as we have seen he has continued to speak out and hasn't done enough on the field to win back his spot in the senior team. Recent murmurs about a new book in which has some unkind words to say on his team-mates and his inability to keep in-house matters to himself has seen the relationship between club and player brake down even further and what happened yesterday was the end result.

[The Pie Man]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

IF thats true then IMO the club has lost some integrity for jerking the guy around at Willi, stringing him along with the promise that he had a chance to get back into the team, when in actual fact he had no chance no matter what he did. Thats just disgusting. And it also means that everything else that is supposed to have happened since the gay footballers article is just BS, and that Aker's been sacked for an opinion-piece on gay footballers. If true then that just puts the club in a terrible light.

I don't think it's as straight forward as that - if Jason had complied with what was asked of him and his form continued to improve, I would like to think he would've been seriously considered for senior selection.

But with his history, I think it's prudent the club made sure all avenues were covered, and if there were further breaches that action such as the one they took would be water tight.

I don't think he's been led on so to speak - especially with the media reports indicating they weren't happy about Sam Newman's rant on TFS, it's not really a big surprise to end up here is it?

I just had someone from our warehouse come in and say they feel sorry for him - seriously, give me a spell - he wasn't sacked for writing that article. Not sure how much clearer the club can be on this point.

[Desipura]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

The club made a brave decison to sack him. He has opened his mouth one too many times. It is now obvious to me he was not going to be selected based on his recent misdemeanors.
I am willing to back Smorgon and the Committee on this one.

A caller rang in last night and said he and his son went and saw Aker kick a lazy 5 goals for Williamstown.
This father went to the quarter time huddle (Aker showed no interest in the coaches comments)
He went into the rooms after the game with his young son and Aker looked at the Father and Son and said "Surely that is fckn enough".
Is that what you say to a young supporter?

Aker was a brilliant player who was a very good pick up for us up until this season. He lost his pace and his form this year was ordinary. Is it no coincedence he got the sack from Brisbane when he was struggling??????
Aker today says he never lied about changing that Gay article yet when it happened a few months ago. At the time he said "I did the wrong thing and am paying for it".
Which one is it Aker?
Brilliant footballer at his best, ordinary bloke from what I am hearing

[Curly5]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

In my industry we do. You don't have to like everyone but we all have to be pulling in the same direction.

Apparently McLeod and Edwards in the Crows did not speak to each other for 10 years. However, they did not let it get in the way of both wanting to do their best for the team.

Yeah - this is not good. I am worried about the damage to the club and its reputation. A lot of people are not happy about it. It is very easy for Aker to play the sympathy card to the public because we don't and probably never will know the full story.

The pressure is really on the team and coaching staff to perform for the rest of the season and particularly the finals. If we crash and burn I don't think we'll attract a lot of sympathy from the AFL community. Fingers crossed.

No, we will never know the full story, and there is obviously a LOT more, and I mean a REAL LOT more. But people are quick to judge on very few facts and the media encourages this.

He needs to be careful (is this possible?) about what he says about the club/players etc, as if he opens his mouth about club affairs, everyone will realise this is exactly why he got the sack.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

Aker stuffed up again! Club stuffed up big time.

[Desipura]

Re: Aker press Conference at 4:45 PM

yes how so? TCD I have not seen you give your opinion? If you are willing, I would be interested to know.