View Full Version : Rate the Akermanis 2007
bulldogtragic
31 Aug 2007, 21:30
For me it was good. Slow start but showed some very good signs. He sets the standard at training and when we needed someone to stand up in key points in some matches he did it on multiple occasions.
For me i'm happy with the trade.
His experiance to the younger players throughout the season and pre season would be immense to their development.
He did start off slow as you said BT but even though he hasnt been splitting open games like Akermanis of yesteryear he has been a solid contributor throughout the season and has finished in tight, high pressure game like only he could do.
Was he worth the 2nd rounder? You bet ya!
the Dogs Bollocks
31 Aug 2007, 22:06
Some people expected to much! But for his age and a 2nd round pick he has bee pretty bloody good. With a full pre-season l think he will be better next year.
I reckon Aker had a real crack this year , i just dont think his kicking is doing the magic for him as it has done in years gone bye.
dales.girl38
31 Aug 2007, 22:19
He hasn't had good delivery all year, constantly the ball's coming over his head and he has very little chance of making something of it. He basically won us the game against Port and offered us a lift in others, but his chasing really frustrates me, he runs after them a bit, proceeds to push them in the back after they've already kicked it- very, very annoying and achieves absolutely nothing.
I personally think that with everything that went on last year, the move to Melb, then getting to know new teammates and game plans etc...it seemed to take him a while to settle........I feel sure that with a good pre season and that feeling of belonging, he will have a much better year next season...I really hope so anyway.........he is an awesome player, that doesn't just disappear.......cheers
8/10
I reckon he probably won 2 or 3 games off his own boot (Port, Brisbane, Melbourne??) and was in the best every second or third week.
I also felt that the Gabba game was a turning point for him - he realised where his new home now is:thumbsu:
Jason Akermanis stepped up to the plate IMO, BUT not many of his Bulldog teamates followed.
Im happy with his year and will only get better.Young guys like Hig will be better for having Jason at the club.
stefoid
31 Aug 2007, 23:16
Id say OK.
Would have been good if he had his kicking boots on. very un-akerlike missed shots on goal and flubbed passes.
lifelike_
31 Aug 2007, 23:42
We got him to win us games. He's won at least two at the death.
For what we got him for, he's done very well, but he needs to improve next year.
Poor Aker he tried soooo hard.....
W.Bulldogs_Aus_WC06
1 Sep 2007, 00:17
Poor decision by Rocket. ffs there have been some brilliant prospects picked up below pick 34 and we get this average lump for a couple of years?
3/10
mighty seagulls
1 Sep 2007, 00:50
Poor decision by Rocket. ffs there have been some brilliant prospects picked up below pick 34 and we get this average lump for a couple of years?
3/10
Your right about some good players getting picked up below 34, but what is the success rate of a pick below that? I reckon he has been worth a second round pick. Just hope he can have abit more confidence in his body and it will improve his kicking and running.
DogsRuleWstNoBul
1 Sep 2007, 12:27
Akermanis had bad hammies before we got him and I actually think we have seen the best of Aker. Impact player at best and I think the coaching staff thought we were way ahead of where we finished. Aker was supposed to be the cream on top and now he is a critical depth player. Considering the players like West notice a slack work rate from some players I hope Eade starts training early and bust's there balls.
His kicking let him down at times, as did his slowing pace, but he still had a good impact and played a few crucial roles at times which were very important for us. Often he's worked hard to get to the right spot only to be ignored, and I think next year we'll be more prepared for him, and him more prepared for us. A good finisher who was still worth the trade.
Poor decision by Rocket. ffs there have been some brilliant prospects picked up below pick 34 and we get this average lump for a couple of years?
3/10
So wrong on so many levels.
Firstly, there is not a club in the competition who would not have jumped at that trade. Factor in McDougall for virtually nothing (downgrade pick 29 to 34 and pick 59 to 67) and that is probably the smartest trade done in years. The McDougall portion hasn't yet beared fruit, but it doesn't take away from the shrewdness of the trade.
Without Aker in our side this year, we might have been in the running for a priority pick, such has been his influence in getting us over the line in numerous tight matches this season.
He has had a far better season than the majority of the list. Factor in a full pre-season, no moving pains, and a much better understanding of his new team, and he will be a major influence next season and beyond.
aker has had an ok year imo. Wasnt a fan of getting him but he has showed glimpses. As for next year i think that he will have his certain impacted games but nothing more. Id rate his 2007 a 6/10.
Your right about some good players getting picked up below 34, but what is the success rate of a pick below that?
There's second round picks, and there's second round picks.
If it was a second rounder in 2005 or 2007, wouldn't have had any major issue with it, but going by what I've seen the 2006 second round will be seen as at least the equivalent of most year's 1st rounds (outside of the top 3).
One year on, would Port trade Krakeour for ANY 30+ year old in the country? Would West Coast do the same with McKenzie? Essendon with Alwyn Davey or Bachar Houli? Melbourne with Petterd? IMO not a chance in hell.
People are fine with it at the moment because the "loss" in the trade is a faceless 17/18 year old on a piece of paper who hasn't done much - it will be a different story when Aker is 5 years retired and the 24 year old player we could have had is among the comp's top 100, on his way to a 200 game career and could have contributed to 5 premiership tilts from thereon in.
lindsay_bulldogs
2 Sep 2007, 11:29
There's second round picks, and there's second round picks.
If it was a second rounder in 2005 or 2007, wouldn't have had any major issue with it, but going by what I've seen the 2006 second round will be seen as at least the equivalent of most year's 1st rounds (outside of the top 3).
One year on, would Port trade Krakeour for ANY 30+ year old in the country? Would West Coast do the same with McKenzie? Essendon with Alwyn Davey or Bachar Houli? Melbourne with Petterd? IMO not a chance in hell.
People are fine with it at the moment because the "loss" in the trade is a faceless 17/18 year old on a piece of paper who hasn't done much - it will be a different story when Aker is 5 years retired and the 24 year old player we could have had is among the comp's top 100, on his way to a 200 game career and could have contributed to 5 premiership tilts from thereon in.
People on here see Aker as some savior or something that I don't see. A couple of good games over the next two years doesn't warrant giving away a potential 100 to 200 gamer. I agree totally with this poster and hate the fact each year we give away draft picks. Why do you think Brisbane and Westcoast are so strong. They give away hacks for picks. Victorian teams need to take note.
There's second round picks, and there's second round picks.
If it was a second rounder in 2005 or 2007, wouldn't have had any major issue with it, but going by what I've seen the 2006 second round will be seen as at least the equivalent of most year's 1st rounds (outside of the top 3).
One year on, would Port trade Krakeour for ANY 30+ year old in the country? Would West Coast do the same with McKenzie? Essendon with Alwyn Davey or Bachar Houli? Melbourne with Petterd? IMO not a chance in hell.
People are fine with it at the moment because the "loss" in the trade is a faceless 17/18 year old on a piece of paper who hasn't done much - it will be a different story when Aker is 5 years retired and the 24 year old player we could have had is among the comp's top 100, on his way to a 200 game career and could have contributed to 5 premiership tilts from thereon in.
You've certainly hit the nail on the head as far as what we actually gave up - and it was definitely an important pick that would've netted us say, Krakeour who we really wanted. No doubt we could've drafted a potential 200 game player with that pick, however we went a more short term option of Akermanis. Personally, I don't mind that. It's great for our young squad to be able to learn/train/converse with someone like Aker on a regular basis, and will no doubt have been and will be, beneficial to these young guys.
I've thought similar to your sentiments are certain stages this year, but overall I think we made a good decision, and I doubt we'd do it too much differently if we had the chance to go back in time.
i will accept his performance this season as long as next season is better.
we need him to be more consistent and he has shown some brilliance to make sure this year wasnt a flop.
a pass mark just.
we got aker coz we thought we were better than what we were and we thought getting aker would be the icing on the cake to get us in the top 4. IT BACKFIRED!!!
I didnt want aker at the club and i dont want FEV at the club for the same reasons.
Scroater
2 Sep 2007, 19:49
Glad we took Aker. Small price to pay for a three time premiership player and brownlow medalist. Agree he has lost a yard in pace and length of kick. I ask this question, was he taken to star or to compliment our other players?
I thought it was to compliment and fit in with the others. The others haven't stepped up or have dropped off. After our performance this year, I'm actually embarrased that he picked our club and this year is what we have dished up.
Glad we took Aker. Small price to pay for a three time premiership player and brownlow medalist. Agree he has lost a yard in pace and length of kick. I ask this question, was he taken to star or to compliment our other players?
I thought it was to compliment and fit in with the others. The others haven't stepped up or have dropped off. After our performance this year, I'm actually embarrased that he picked our club and this year is what we have dished up.
Agree with this. The other problem Aker faced was becoming a lead up KPP forward which wasn't his thing....
All in all a great trade.
Can't say it enough Eade's recruiting and trading has been astute.
I am concerned about his list development.
Can't say it enough Eade's recruiting and trading has been astute.
I am concerned about his list development.
How can you say this? How can you blame Eade for the problems that he inherited. The problem with the list at the moment is not due to Eade, but is a carry on from the Rhode and Wallace years. The new players that have been brought to the club in the Eade years can't be judged yet, but the ones which were already here are the ones who are letting us down.
What Eade does with this list is the challenge, if in 2 years time we are stilling facing the same problems we can comfortably say that Eade's list management was/ is poor, but at present you can't really blame him.
How can you say this? How can you blame Eade for the problems that he inherited. The problem with the list at the moment is not due to Eade, but is a carry on from the Rhode and Wallace years. The new players that have been brought to the club in the Eade years can't be judged yet, but the ones which were already here are the ones who are letting us down.
What Eade does with this list is the challenge, if in 2 years time we are stilling facing the same problems we can comfortably say that Eade's list management was/ is poor, but at present you can't really blame him.
You might be confusing list development with recruiting/delisting which go together to form list management. I think Eade's recruiting/delisting has been excellent. His list development...is questionable after this season. Haven't said Eade's list development was poor. Said I was concerned. Can I suggest Smorgan is concerned as well, hence the review.
A number of players improved when Eade took over. Now quite a few players appear to have stalled, gone backwards or generally not met expectation. McMahon has been poor. Minson was poor before he got injured. Griffen was not as good as expected prior to injury. Cross still can't kick in front of goal. Eagle has gone backwards. Cooney still lacks consistency and can't shake a tag. McDougal has not kicked on. Giansiracusa has gone backwards this year.
In short a lot of players haven't played to their potential. Yes I know injury has intervened but even so, either we are overating them, or the list has not developed as well as expected. This is Eade's ultimate responsibility, and I think the club is looking into this.
I am also concerned about a Brereton comment to the effect that Eade tends to 'wipe' players if they screw up too much. I am also concerned about Eade's Sydney experience, list development and performance stalled.
So yeah, I am concerned but as you say we only have one season to be concerned about.
You might be confusing list development with recruiting/delisting which go together to form list management. I think Eade's recruiting/delisting has been excellent. His list development...is questionable after this season. Haven't said Eade's list development was poor. Said I was concerned. Can I suggest Smorgan is concerned as well, hence the review.
A number of players improved when Eade took over. Now quite a few players appear to have stalled, gone backwards or generally not met expectation. McMahon has been poor. Minson was poor before he got injured. Griffen was not as good as expected prior to injury. Cross still can't kick in front of goal. Eagle has gone backwards. Cooney still lacks consistency and can't shake a tag. McDougal has not kicked on. Giansiracusa has gone backwards this year.
Good points.. I said in my review post that our 2nd and 3rd tiered players stagnated. I see the group you mentioned as our problems and are problems which need to be fixed.
In short a lot of players haven't played to their potential. Yes I know injury has intervened but even so, either we are overating them, or the list has not developed as well as expected. This is Eade's ultimate responsibility, and I think the club is looking into this.
I am also concerned about a Brereton comment to the effect that Eade tends to 'wipe' players if they screw up too much. I am also concerned about Eade's Sydney experience, list development and performance stalled.
So yeah, I am concerned but as you say we only have one season to be concerned about.
Like he wiped Faulkner who may not have been the answer, but was not given the same opportunity he afforded others.
In other threads I have posted that we are at decision time. There are some on the list that simply have to go. If in two months time our list has not removed the dead wood I would say then that Eade's list managemsnt is poor. Hopefully Eade has identified what the fans see and makes the appriopriate changes in a few weeks time.
bulldogtragic
4 Sep 2007, 23:18
As a thought, do you think Aker may be regreting his decision now?
He was sold a pup. We'll be top 4 with you, we're headed for big things, you're apart of premierships. Aker said he expected big things and premierships before retirement.
Would be interesting to know exactly how he feels now 22 rounds after.
Probably like a lot of people at the club, bitterly disappointed, but keen to make amends.
dales.girl38
5 Sep 2007, 19:59
As a thought, do you think Aker may be regreting his decision now?
He was sold a pup. We'll be top 4 with you, we're headed for big things, you're apart of premierships. Aker said he expected big things and premierships before retirement.
Would be interesting to know exactly how he feels now 22 rounds after.
Yeah, I've been joking around about how Aker will be regretting choosing us, but at the Victory Room thing he said that he didn't expect things to just happen and thought that we were being a bit over-hyped anyway. He's committed to finishing here I think and if he does regret it, then that's his own bad luck I guess.
DogsRuleWstNoBul
5 Sep 2007, 20:16
Did anyone keep the receipt. :D