NORTH Albury coach Jason Akermanis has said he harbours no animosity towards former Hoppers Matt McDonald, Jethro Calma-Holt and Shane Munro ahead of their much-anticipated showdown with Wodonga Raiders at Bunton Park on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
McDonald was considered a favourite son at Bunton Park, but is set to face his former teammates for the first time just over 12 months after leaving North Albury to join Jindera following a long contract dispute.
Adding further spice to the clash, Calma-Holt and Munro walked out on the Hoppers during the summer to also join the Raiders.
Akermanis said both Calma-Holt and Munro would struggle to break into the Hoppers’ line-up this season after being dropped last year.
“The blokes that left, all did so for different reasons. Munro and Calma-Holt left because we couldn’t really guarantee them senior spots,” Akermanis said.
“I’m pleased they are getting a shot at O and M football somewhere else.
“If they stayed they might have been playing in our reserves and they obviously didn’t want to do that.
“And Matty McDonald, he was at North Albury but obviously left with a bunch of other players and ended up at Jindera.
“Now he’s 31 and has decided to go back to the O and M.”
Akermanis said the Hoppers couldn’t afford to focus their attention on the trio and would need to stick to their game plan to get the four points.
“Our guys know those three players well and know we are up against a side that has got its confidence up,” he said.
“They have been good for the Raiders in the first couple of games and are just three players we will have to stop.
“But we are fully aware they have got a lot more players that can cause a lot more grief than those three.”
Akermanis said he was looking forward to the challenge of coaching against Daryn Cresswell for the first time.
Cresswell was assistant coach of Akermanis at Brisbane Lions before the Brownlow medallist joined Western Bulldogs in 2007.
“We had a great relationship while I was at Brisbane and he was great for my career,” he said.
“Probably one of the reasons I ended up at the Bulldogs was his testimony to Rodney Eade, who Cressa has always had a close relationship with.”