RODNEY Eade's experience as a player and coach in the Queensland market will help him as Gold Coast's new senior coach, says Brownlow medallist Jason Akermanis.

Eade and Akermanis didn't see eye to eye during their time together at Whitten Oval between 2007-10, and Akermanis had his playing contract torn up in mid-2010 after a string of off-field controversies.

But Akermanis said Eade, a four-time premiership player, would adapt well to his new role.

"He knows the Queensland landscape," Akermanis told AFL.com.au.

"He should remember what the market is like because he played and coached up there. It's a full circle for him.

"It's a different world, a different system but he knows the landscape and I'm sure he'll be fine because that will help."

Eade is expected to be announced as the Suns' second coach and Guy McKenna's successor on Wednesday.

His wife Wendy confirmed on Melbourne radio on Tuesday night he had accepted the job because of his "overwhelming" passion to coach.

His knowledge of the Queensland market extends back to 1988-1990, when he played 30 games for the Brisbane Bears before coaching the club's reserves to the premiership in 1991.

Meanwhile, Akermanis plans to ramp up his own AFL coaching aspirations in the next 12 months.

He is about to enter his third season coaching Ovens and Murray League team North Albury, and first in a full-time capacity.

Akermanis has been a playing-coach for the past two years and moved to the New South Wales region 18 months ago, after a stint at Aberfeldie in the Essendon Football League.

He has finished his level two certificate in coaching and will work on level three in the New Year.

He said he would approach AFL clubs this time next year to take his coaching career to the next level after gaining experience outside the system.

"I've never been one to start something and not want to go to the top. I've done everything to a high standard," he said.

"I'm here to do it the right way.

"There's only one goal for me after this period and that's get back into the AFL and have a real crack at it at the right club and see if I can't help groups get the most out of themselves.

"That's why you go to the country – to learn your craft. I knew if I wanted to learn how to be a coach, I had to go to a good league and a group of men that came last.

"We're now progressing to the top."

Akermanis' playing career ended abruptly and he spent his initial years out of the game travelling, playing in amateur golf competitions and racing Superkarts.

But he said his time away from football had helped him focus on starting a coaching career and believed he had changed since taking control of his own team two years ago.  



"The difference between Jason Akermanis as a player and Jason Akermanis as a coach is astronomical," he said.

"You wouldn't know it unless you saw me coach.

"My philosophy as a player was that you're the show, have a lot of fun.

"But as a coach, it's the opposite. I don't want to be seen in the media, I'm not interested in the media and I'm only interested in my team and them playing the best footy they can for each other. That's it.

"I've got a footy brain. It's never been tough for me. I just need someone to give me a chance."

There is clearly no love lost between Akermanis and Eade, and the conversation about the experienced coach's new appointment didn't last long.

But Akermanis did say he is already anticipating the opportunity to coach against Eade in the coming years if his career progresses the way he imagines.

"With any luck I'll be in the AFL and coaching against him as a senior coach and I'll look forward to those battles against him," he said.

"Good luck to him. He did teach me some things.

"I wish him well and I look forward to coaching against him."