Aker Gone!!

[Jack Harkaway]

Well...I have been saying for a couple of weeks that he probably needs a rest and it's nothing to do with his off field stuff.

He still does some nice things, but has lost his pace and he's not kicking goals when he gets chances like he used to.

I think his best puts him in the best 22. But on current form/fitness I'd say he's not.

I think our best 22 includes Ward, Johnson and Murphy, so when they come back Aker might struggle until he finds form.

Clearly our younger guys while getting there are not quite our best....Stack and Grant showing promise for sure....but in an ideal world they are not in the best team just yet.

I would like to see guys at Willi doing well get there chance and Roughead, Reid, Wood, Everitt, Eagleton and Moles could all come into calculations with a good showing at Willi today. Pressure should be on Minson, Akermanis, Addison, and Hahn this week to hold their spots. While not wanting to be hard on Stack and Grant , they will be also under the pump.

Higgins is in our best 22...and a lot is expected of him. I see nothing to be gained by dropping him, his character is such that he'll bounce back. If he's not fit...then he should not be playing.

Also...note to the selectors. I thought the omission of Eagleton was poor selection decision...what we needed was pace and run it was obvious before the game. Addision was the man to be left out.

It's early to call it.

Out: Aker, Minson, Stack, Addison

In: Eagleton, Roughead, Wood, Everitt

 

[pabart]

Acker won't play next week. Collingwood's rebounding half back line requires a quick player to keep the pressure on them ... that's not Acker.

 

[_Mike_]

Higgins is in our best 22...and a lot is expected of him. I see nothing to be gained by dropping him, his character is such that he'll bounce back. If he's not fit...then he should not be playing.

Out: Aker, Minson, Stack, Addison

In: Eagleton, Roughead, Wood, Everitt

Out - Higgins, Minson, Stack, Addison, Aker

In- Eagleton, Roughead, Everitt, Wood, Moles (unless he's injured)


I disgree with your opinion and anyone else who continuously defends Higgin's form. He should not be taking up a spot if he's playing with an injury.. Injured or not, he has been ordinary at best and offered nothing to date in the 2010 home and away season.

To the majority bagging Hall's performance - what exactly do you expect from him when the delivery to the F50 8 out of 10 times is shite....

He's giving us 3-5 goals a game. What more can you ask for given the circumstances...

As for Aker, I admit that the time has come to hang up the boots. He cant produce the effort required anymore rather than being known for hanging on too long, he should really think about where he's at right now.

 

[Jack Harkaway]

Out - Higgins, Minson, Stack, Addison, Aker

In- Eagleton, Roughead, Everitt, Wood, Moles (unless he's injured)


I disgree with your opinion and anyone else who continuously defends Higgin's form. He should not be taking up a spot if he's playing with an injury.. Injured or not, he has been ordinary at best and offered nothing to date in the 2010 home and away season.

To the majority bagging Hall's performance - what exactly do you expect from him when the delivery to the F50 8 out of 10 times is shite....

He's giving us 3-5 goals a game. What more can you ask for given the circumstances...

As for Aker, I admit that the time has come to hang up the boots. He cant produce the effort required anymore rather than being known for hanging on too long, he should really think about where he's at right now.

I was hardly defending him, but I think there is not much that would be gained from dropping him...We can't drop everyone, and we don't have Johnson, Murphy and Ward coming back in....so Higgins stays unless he's not fit....I do agree...that changes need to be made to the team this week...how many...depends on who sticks their hand up at Willi today.

 

[_Mike_]

but I think there is not much that would be gained from dropping him....

Based on what I saw of his performance last night, I lost count as to how many times he easily gave up the ball.

He doesnt deserve his place, however depth within the dogs is an issue at the moment

 

[Tutt54]

Again lack of beliefe in our players-its like a desease that ruins clubs like us and St Kilda they call it shooting yourself in the foot!!!

We are 4th still -without Johnson-Murphy and Ward and maybe even everitt

Stack is not up to it yes!

Addison was feeling affects of last weeks Hit yes

Higgins had a shocker yes

Aker has just lost a person very close to him-Thats death dying!!!!! its big for everyone to carry on like they have is a blite on our club.
His article is paying for him this year and you now what I would hate playing with a ****!!!

His form this year has been good - better than Higgins and the one game Gia played add Hahn -Murphy and cross his clean hands win games ask Collingwood-who we play next week??

Everyone take a breath and please just ask why we have 4 players that wont kick for goal from 45????

Anyway

Inn- Roughead-Moles-Eaglton-Everitt

out-Stack-Minson-Addison-Higgins

 

[Whitejumper]

Aker gone? I hope so.
His performances this year have been poor and last night, except for the final 15 minutes was no different.
If he was a kid you'd persevere but he is giving us nothing and we may as well have a young kid running around getting some experience.
The off field is unforgivable. Yeah he might be playing for little coin but it is certainly all ego. He is putting his own needs above the club, shows no insight or remorse about the effects and I think it is having a negative impact on the playing group and club.
In "the" article Aker was worried that a gay footballer outing himself tears at the fabric of a club; no Aker it is a lying, self interested, ego driven, bigoted homophobic loud mouth that does that.

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

Hold up a second mate. He offered to play on for peanuts when he didn't even need to. That in my opinion shows a great deal of commitment to the team.

this is the thing though - do you keep him on the list because he's cheap, or because he's furthering the team? He's had a celebrated career, and overall he's given the Dogs good service - but as was mentioned on SEN this morning he's not a heart & soul part of your list, and if he's not cutting it anymore onfield, then he becomes a very high profile thorn in your side with his media bylines. He's not Brad Johnson.

 

[murphy2bedabest]

Again lack of beliefe in our players-its like a desease that ruins clubs like us and St Kilda they call it shooting yourself in the foot!!!

We are 4th still -without Johnson-Murphy and Ward and maybe even everitt

Stack is not up to it yes!

Addison was feeling affects of last weeks Hit yes

Higgins had a shocker yes

Aker has just lost a person very close to him-Thats death dying!!!!! its big for everyone to carry on like they have is a blite on our club.
His article is paying for him this year and you now what I would hate playing with a ****!!!

His form this year has been good - better than Higgins and the one game Gia played add Hahn -Murphy and cross his clean hands win games ask Collingwood-who we play next week??

Everyone take a breath and please just ask why we have 4 players that wont kick for goal from 45????

Anyway

Inn- Roughead-Moles-Eaglton-Everitt

out-Stack-Minson-Addison-Higgins

dont understand why people are calling for Higgins to be dropped, he came back from injury give him a week or two, come RD 22 he is in our best 22 (if everyone is fit to pick from)

can the same be said about Aker? i hope so.

 

[Missy Maxi]

Is in danger of getting dropped I think. Put in an absolute shocker tonight, after Higgins was our biggest passenger.

Huh????? Was I at a different game last night? Aker was one of our best! His committment is second to none. If every other player on our list had his endeavour and committment, we would be invincible. He does play for peanuts and his media pieces are supposed to supplement his payment from the club. They knew what he was like when they took him on, what's so different now? Of course he has slowed down, but he is still invaluable. Don't drop him. That would be a huge mistake IMO.
One thing though, why is it when a player does kick a goal, they take him off immediately. Doesn't he have momentum? Why run off for a rest? There's a couple of minutes before the ball is bounced again. Why not rest for those few minutes and repeat the clever play and kick another one!!!! Der.....simple!

 

[lindsay_bulldogs]

An underdone Reid is better than the output of Acker who is surely looking after some sore hammies. Since his hammy earlier in the year I do not think I have seen him stride out at full tilt. Protect those hammies in the seconds Acker.

 

[maddog37]

There comes a time late in your career where you have to piss or get off the pot.

Sprint and prove to yourself that you can or do a hammy trying. AFL does not let you go at 90% and hope to get a kick.

Acker either has to go hard or go home imo.

 

[Lightning_Mcqueen95]

There comes a time late in your career where you have to piss or get off the pot.

Sprint and prove to yourself that you can or do a hammy trying. AFL does not let you go at 90% and hope to get a kick.

Acker either has to go hard or go home imo.

MC need to brave this week and make the hard calls on our slower players.

 

[smashh]

I never got 'Acker'
there is no c in Akermanis

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Geez, I can't believe the crap that people have written on here. The whole team was down last night, with perhaps the exception of Hudson and Picken.

Aker did some very nice work especially in the last quarter which did give us back some respectability on the scoreline. He might be a bit slower, but the whole dam team looked slow last night, against a team of skinny runners in Essendon.

The club will drop him for a couple of weeks as part punishment and part to regain some form, as he has a persistent niggle. But a player with Aker's experience is valuable come finals time.

Stop listening to the media, telling us we should be dropping Aker, the Hun is pissed off because of the row, they had with him over the ghost writer debacle, and are obviously gunning for him. I am sick of the media butting their heads in and telling our club what we should and shouldn't do. For one we heard for years, that without a FF we will not win a premiership - will here we are with a FF one of the biggest and baddest, and guess what, is the flavour of the month? Teams with midfields who can kick goals - ala Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton. We should not be directed by the media on what we should and shouldn't do with our players and our club. (end of rant)

 

[VL3OJ]

Well said Dogs R Barking. It's a bit hard for Aker to be in the best if he was on the bench for most of the night. When he was on, he was more than servicable in patches.

It's where do we want to be at the end of the year and IMHO Aker is crucial to a tilt at the flag. Whatever Rocket does, we need to clear the crap up internally this week and move on with both Aker and a fully focussed team.

Had the ball been delivered correctly on Friday, we would have had another win. To err is human but to kick it constantly to the opposition is extremely worrying.

Lets get the mojo back and enjoy our Footy as we did last year.

 

[Dog 36]

Whatever the club decides I hope its quick and decisive. I also hope its not dictated and driven by the media and the decision is in the best interests of the football club and its members.

For what its worth Aker still has value to our side and is out of form like 75% of the other players. He still has the football smarts and that you could not buy.

To the decision makers/coaches get on with getting players into form and winning games of football because there are several players who should be very concerned about their form and their intensity and that should be concerning you also.

As for Aker and the article I dont think what he said warranted such a reaction from everyone it was not big deal. Yes maybe since then he has made a couple of errors of judgement and he wont be the first or the last.

Aker take what comes and work hard to get get this club what it ultimately wants.

 

[campbell]

Whatever the club decides I hope its quick and decisive. I also hope its not dictated and driven by the media and the decision is in the best interests of the football club and its members.

For what its worth Aker still has value to our side and is out of form like 75% of the other players. He still has the football smarts and that you could not buy.

To the decision makers/coaches get on with getting players into form and winning games of football because there are several players who should be very concerned about their form and their intensity and that should be concerning you also.

As for Aker and the article I dont think what he said warranted such a reaction from everyone it was not big deal. Yes maybe since then he has made a couple of errors of judgement and he wont be the first or the last.

Aker take what comes and work hard to get get this club what it ultimately wants.

precisely. This backs up what he was saying the article. Can you imagine the poor 1st player who does decide to come out....The media frenzy would be horrific for them, and the club, and the other players. The distraction to day to day workings of the club, would be mammoth .

 

[beyondthevalley ofthedogs]

[

As for Aker and the article I dont think what he said warranted such a reaction from everyone it was not big deal. Yes maybe since then he has made a couple of errors of judgement and he wont be the first or the last.

Aker take what comes and work hard to get get this club what it ultimately wants.[/quote]

Way to gloss over him getting the club to lie on his behalf. What a disgarce. I'll be disappointed if the club doesn't crack down on him for that.

If he cracks the sads and retires well too bad.

I don't think it matters how hard he works, he's lost his zip and he's not going to get it back at 33.

 

[Werewolf]

According to Barratt on the SFS, Aker will not play seniors at all in June. He also said Aker was being truthful about his column being modified but took responsibility anyway . He also has a nerve problem in his hamstring.

 

[UnCani]

His article is paying for him this year and you now what I would hate playing with a ****!!!

Maybe, just maybe we have 2 or 3 gay players at the club. How would they be feeling with all this attention and crap that Aker has created?

Its the same old from the di$ckhead. Speaks without taking into consideration his team mates.

The sooner he is removed from the club the better. We cannot win with him. He is now owned by the media. EVERY week he will bring in bad press for us and cause distractions.

WE SHOULD PART WAYS NOW before the season gets away from us.

 

[boydsno1]

I think aker will be rested/suspended for 1-4 weeks. Freshen him up and he will be right to go. Like stevens said on mmm aker is someone who won't lose his touch if he rests for a month.

 

[SCRAY72]

Geez, I can't believe the crap that people have written on here. The whole team was down last night, with perhaps the exception of Hudson and Picken.

Aker did some very nice work especially in the last quarter which did give us back some respectability on the scoreline. He might be a bit slower, but the whole dam team looked slow last night, against a team of skinny runners in Essendon.

The club will drop him for a couple of weeks as part punishment and part to regain some form, as he has a persistent niggle. But a player with Aker's experience is valuable come finals time.

Stop listening to the media, telling us we should be dropping Aker, the Hun is pissed off because of the row, they had with him over the ghost writer debacle, and are obviously gunning for him. I am sick of the media butting their heads in and telling our club what we should and shouldn't do. For one we heard for years, that without a FF we will not win a premiership - will here we are with a FF one of the biggest and baddest, and guess what, is the flavour of the month? Teams with midfields who can kick goals - ala Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton. We should not be directed by the media on what we should and shouldn't do with our players and our club. (end of rant)

Good Post.Saves me replying.

 

[beyondthevalley ofthedogs]

Geez, I can't believe the crap that people have written on here.
Aker did some very nice work especially in the last quarter which did give us back some respectability on the scoreline.

Stop listening to the media, telling us we should be dropping Aker, the Hun is pissed off because of the row, they had with him over the ghost writer debacle, and are obviously gunning for him. I am sick of the media butting their heads in and telling our club what we should and shouldn't do. For one we heard for years, that without a FF we will not win a premiership - will here we are with a FF one of the biggest and baddest, and guess what, is the flavour of the month? Teams with midfields who can kick goals - ala Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton. We should not be directed by the media on what we should and shouldn't do with our players and our club. (end of rant)

A few junk time stats is not good enough.

As for the last sentence I'm sure Eade, Fantasia etc are grown ups and can make their own decision. Do you really, really think their happy with defending the barefaced lies and threadbare excuses that he trotted out when the media attention hotted up last week?

For too long this club has valued the individual over the team (see Granty's farewell speech at the B&F a few years ago) and I'd be rapt if the club showed some balls and put him back at Willy for a month.

Poor old Akers - he made his bed and he can lie in it.

 

[The Boy From Brasil]

As for the last sentence I'm sure Eade, Fantasia etc are grown ups and can make their own decision. Do you really, really think their happy with defending the barefaced lies and threadbare excuses that he trotted out when the media attention hotted up last week?

For too long this club has valued the individual over the team (see Granty's farewell speech at the B&F a few years ago) and I'd be rapt if the club showed some balls and put him back at Willy for a month.

Poor old Akers - he made his bed and he can lie in it.

It's a real shame that it has to come to this. My big wish is that he doesn't self destruct like he did at Brisbane.

Looking at the big picture, I think Aker has been fantastic for the club. He has generated a lot of media and played match winning football as well.

He has had a hard childhood and has a great careeer, a lovely wife and children and has been a model citizen. So in this way, it has been a credit to him how he has lived his life.

With this media, 98% of it is funny, unique and out there thought provoking and entirely entertaining. It is the other 2% which creates the real problem. Unfortunately he has a flaw in his personality or thinking where is is extremely opiniated but has no radar for what comments have the potential to land him or his club into trouble or create a distraction.

In summary;his flaws

1) He says things without thinking about the consequences after

2)He says things without thought on how it can affect the club and players.

In the current media environment built on sensationalism and milking any story to make it out something to be a lot bigger than what it really is, these flaws can be a big risk.


As I said before,. 98% of what he says is great, but 2% has the potential to cause a distraction for the club and their players and damage the club brand.