Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
JASON Akermanis could face an even bigger penalty than the one handed down at the Ovens and Murray Football League tribunal.
The North Albury coach’s accreditation will be reviewed after he was found guilty on Tuesday night of conduct unbecoming, following an investigation of a breach of the league’s cyber safety policy.
AFL Victoria’s coaching development manager Steve Teakel, who has been closely monitoring the Akermanis case, will decide if there is to be any further action.
Akermanis has aspirations of returning to the AFL in a coaching role after his time at North Albury and he qualifies for level two accreditation as an ex-AFL player.
AFL North-East regional manager John O’Donohue yesterday said it was on Mr Teakel’s recommendation that the matter was dealt with through the O and M.
“When we decided enough was enough, we looked at the options available,” Mr O’Donohue said.
“We referred everything to Melbourne and the advice we got back was to deal with it locally.
“Then, if anything came of that, it would be considered through the coaching accreditation process.”
Brownlow medallist Akermanis signed off on an AFL Victoria coaches’ code of conduct which includes “displaying and fostering” respect for parties including umpires, administrators and officials.
His accreditation was produced at the tribunal hearing this week.
The AFL North-East Border Commission lodged the complaint against Akermanis after he sent seven videos containing abusive language to AFL employee and local umpires boss, Mark Bywater.
It could also have explored the potential of Akermanis breaching the AFL’s vilification policy which prevents any participant ridiculing or discriminating a person on the grounds of their “special ability or disability”.
Among videos shown at the tribunal that were sent to Mr Bywater, the Hoppers coach described one of the umpires as a “retard”.
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said umpires at all levels must be treated with complete respect.
“It remains a major on-going challenge for our sport to to attract enough umpires to be part of our game,” he said.
“It is the responsibility of all senior figures within our game to ensure that negative attitudes towards umpires and their role must be changed.
“In this instance regarding Jason Akermanis, the O and M has conducted an investigation and a tribunal hearing under its rules, and determined a four-week sanction, with three weeks to be suspended, to be an appropriate action.”
VIDEO ONE
“This is the worst piece of umpiring I have ever seen.
“That guy has hit our guy high. This f---ing retarded umpire pays a free kick against him.
“Asks him why? It should be a free kick.
“Then that f---wit gives him 50 metres. This is the type of shit we have to put up with.”
VIDEO TWO
“That is a beautiful tackle, drops it, he’s called a free kick.
“What the f--- are these guys doing with this s---? That is a good tackle.
“You just cannot be serious.”
VIDEO THREE
“Here’s another one of these pieces of crap we’ve got to put up with.
“Ball falls out of his hands and there’s 50 metres.
“That umpire there does not know the rules. This is getting f---ing embarrassing.
VIDEO FOUR
“(North Albury player) made a tackle.
D---head has called 50. What the f--- is he doing in this f---ing competition?
VIDEO FIVE
“Our guys know the rules, this guy (umpire) can’t do it. Just continual f--- ups from these blokes.
“This is s---house.
“That is a basic rule. That guy (opposition player) is not allowed in.”
VIDEO SIX
“This is rubbish stuff that has gone on. I am just going to tell you Bywater.
“This f---ing shit umpire here, for the 1000th f---king time, doesn’t know the rules.
“He is s---house.
“Go and look at the tape and tell me why this guy is allowed on a football field.
