NORTH Albury coach Jason Akermanis will spend next week with Carlton.
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In a bid to find an edge over rival Ovens and Murray clubs, Akermanis will be given special access to the Blues and coach Mick Malthouse.
“Mick has been fantastic,” Akermanis said.
“We have a terrific program at North Albury, but you can always find ways to improve.
“I’ll just observe Mick and see how Carlton does things and try and bring some of those ideas back with me.”
Akermanis has spoken openly about his passion to coach at the highest level and hopes to spend time with another AFL club later in the season.
But at the moment the Brownlow medallist is content at Bunton Park.
While the departure of big man Isaac Muller to Essendon’s VFL team is a major blow, Akermanis believes the Hoppers will make further inroads up the ladder this year.
Ricky Whitehead will bolster the midfield after winning the Horsham league medal with Swifts last season, while Daniel Lieschke (Rand-Walbundrie), Hunter Lloyd (Mangoplah-Cookardi- nia United-Eastlakes), Kylin Morey (Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock) and Tom Weldon (Jindera) have also committed.
“I’m really happy with the squad we have put together,” Akermanis said.
“Our senior and reserves sides are both looking at playing finals.
“I think our depth is a lot better.
“From the lessons we have learnt we wanted recruits who live locally and are in the 18 to 22 age range.
“Its exciting times.”
Whitehead, in particular, has impressed Akermanis on the track.
“He looks good,” he said.
“The other night we had a scratch match and Ricky won plenty of his own ball and found a way out of traffic well.”
The Carlton experiment is the latest in a series of off-season initiatives aimed at seeing the Hoppers play finals.
Brisbane Lions triple premiership star Nigel Lappin took the Hoppers for training before the holiday break.
Lappin, in his seventh season as midfield coach with Geelong, took a session as a favour to his former premiership teammate.