I was sad the day Aker left the Lions in 2006. I understood the reasons and I believe it has worked out best for both parties, but I was sad all the same. No one likes to see a champion player leave a club when they had been so good for each other.
Throughout the club’s glory days there was no bigger name in Queensland football than Jason Akermanis. Everyone knew who he was. They loved him and he loved the attention.
He played a massive part in putting AFL football on the map in the Sunshine State.
A local lad from Nudgee College in Brisbane’s north, he did a wonderful job in promoting the game in a rugby heartland through his unconventional appearance, different opinions and – most importantly – skilful play.
Aker likes to talk it up. He might say too much on occasion – but he has always been able to back it up with his performances.
The magnitude of the Aker phenomenon was best witnessed at the Lions’ Gabba AFL store, where half the space was littered with Aker memorabilia.
A whole rack of jumpers carried the number 12. No other player – not even the great Michael Voss – had a rack dedicated to his jumper number.
At the Lions he achieved much team and individual success. In almost 250 games for the club he played in the Lions premiership sides of 2001, 2002 and 2003, won the Brownlow Medal in 2001 and club best and fairest in 1999 and 2005.
I was fortunate to have played alongside Aker for nine years at the Lions and appreciate his football skills first hand.
Although not well documented, his flexibility and ability to play in different positions are what initially made him such a valuable player.
He won his first best and fairest in 1999 as a back pocket playing on the oppositions’ most dangerous small forwards – while also providing his side with attacking rebound. After that he ventured into the midfield, where he broke games apart with his explosive line-breaking runs, and then forward, where he has managed to regularly kick bags of goals.
Aker’s ability to regularly contribute on the scoreboard made him one of the most damaging players of the modern era. Before sitting down to write this article I had a look at a few of his highlights on afl.com.au and could only marvel at how he made the seemingly impossible look relatively easy.
He is also fiercely competitive – sometimes a little bit too much. He takes even the smallest challenges very seriously. He hates to lose; maybe this is what makes him such a good player.
While he might argue, I never saw Aker as the hardest worker. But he is highly professional. A deep thinker, he is always looking for ideas and ways to improve himself. His diligence and attention to detail would go a long way to explaining his longevity in the game.
Well played, Aker. The 300-game milestone is a true reflection of your durability – the ability to back up week after week in what is a very tough, uncompromising game.
And while the romantic in me wishes you were doing it in your old colours, I hope you, your wife Megan and the family enjoy the night.
Bad luck you have to play the Cats.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
