David HardingPlan to bring Aker to Tassie
September 2nd 2010 11:13
Sourced: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
by JAMES BRESNEHAN
FOOTBALL superstar Jason Akermanis is prepared to turn his back on all other offers to play football with Tasmanian club Glenorchy next season, if the Magpies can show him the money.
The 2001 Brownlow Medallist and Brisbane Lions triple premiership player is in negotiations with Glenorchy as a fly-in player for all 18 rounds in 2011, including nine at the Magpies' nest, KGV Oval.
Sacked by the Western Bulldogs in June, Akermanis, 33, would play for a pittance but Glenorchy would make up for that by finding the blond-haired motor-mouth a "job".
Aker would be a massive drawcard for local football and Glenorchy believes its membership and attendances would skyrocket.
"It's definitely in the pipeline," Akermanis said yesterday.
"It's the first club I've spoken to, and they've shown a real interest in me.
"They haven't been able to offer me a package just yet, but so far so good."
Akermanis was aware that Glenorchy is one of the state's strongest clubs and had a Collingwood-style following.
"Mmm. I hear this, and it's great," he said.
"I love passionate people."
Playing and "working" in Hobart would have to revolve around his employment on radio in Melbourne.
"I would love to spend more time there [Hobart] but I have too many commitments in Melbourne and with work it's just not going to happen," Akermanis said. "I've got a job to do every morning Monday to Friday.
"I'm up at 5am and I start at 7 and finish at 7.30, and some days I do TV, like the Today show.
"I could do stuff [work in Hobart] on Friday afternoons or Friday night and on Sundays."
Akermanis revealed his soft spot for Tasmania.
"There's no doubt that Tassie footy has been on the slide for a bit and has been neglected for some time," he said.
"I haven't spoken to anyone in Melbourne yet, but I'd rather help out Tassie than another country club over here."
Glenorchy president Steve Allie made initial contact by phone, and hopes to meet Aker in Melbourne in about a week.
"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge," Allie said.
"He'd be a great drawcard, there's no question about that, and he would also be a very good player."
The State League salary cap of $65,000 per club restricted Glenorchy's match payment offer.
Allie scoffed at suggestions Aker had been offered $3000 a match.
"The salary cap for the whole club is $65,000, so if we paid him that he'd be playing on his own," Allie said.
The plan is to find a company that wants to tap into Aker's star status.
"We've got to get a sponsor to back him," Allie said.
by JAMES BRESNEHAN
FOOTBALL superstar Jason Akermanis is prepared to turn his back on all other offers to play football with Tasmanian club Glenorchy next season, if the Magpies can show him the money.
The 2001 Brownlow Medallist and Brisbane Lions triple premiership player is in negotiations with Glenorchy as a fly-in player for all 18 rounds in 2011, including nine at the Magpies' nest, KGV Oval.
Jason Akermanis could possibly be playing football with Glenorchy next year, if the club can deliver the right package. Digitally manipulated image
Sacked by the Western Bulldogs in June, Akermanis, 33, would play for a pittance but Glenorchy would make up for that by finding the blond-haired motor-mouth a "job".
Aker would be a massive drawcard for local football and Glenorchy believes its membership and attendances would skyrocket.
"It's definitely in the pipeline," Akermanis said yesterday.
"It's the first club I've spoken to, and they've shown a real interest in me.
"They haven't been able to offer me a package just yet, but so far so good."
Akermanis was aware that Glenorchy is one of the state's strongest clubs and had a Collingwood-style following.
"Mmm. I hear this, and it's great," he said.
"I love passionate people."
Playing and "working" in Hobart would have to revolve around his employment on radio in Melbourne.
"I would love to spend more time there [Hobart] but I have too many commitments in Melbourne and with work it's just not going to happen," Akermanis said. "I've got a job to do every morning Monday to Friday.
"I'm up at 5am and I start at 7 and finish at 7.30, and some days I do TV, like the Today show.
"I could do stuff [work in Hobart] on Friday afternoons or Friday night and on Sundays."
Akermanis revealed his soft spot for Tasmania.
"There's no doubt that Tassie footy has been on the slide for a bit and has been neglected for some time," he said.
"I haven't spoken to anyone in Melbourne yet, but I'd rather help out Tassie than another country club over here."
Glenorchy president Steve Allie made initial contact by phone, and hopes to meet Aker in Melbourne in about a week.
"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge," Allie said.
"He'd be a great drawcard, there's no question about that, and he would also be a very good player."
The State League salary cap of $65,000 per club restricted Glenorchy's match payment offer.
Allie scoffed at suggestions Aker had been offered $3000 a match.
"The salary cap for the whole club is $65,000, so if we paid him that he'd be playing on his own," Allie said.
The plan is to find a company that wants to tap into Aker's star status.
"We've got to get a sponsor to back him," Allie said.
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