BRENDAN Fevola has launched a stinging attack on Jason Akermanis, as the fall out from the elimination final continues.
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Fevola has accused the North Albury coach of going against the code of ethics by “dobbing” in the Pigeons via the video review system.
North Albury referred multiple incidents for video review from that game, including the Drew Barnes rough conduct case which was dismissed by the tribunal on Wednesday night.
Pigeons superstar Fevola said the video review should only be used when a player was seriously injured.
“Their season’s over and he’s (Akermanis) gone over the tape and put in five cases that he thinks are reportable incidents and they get thrown out,” Fevola said.
“If someone did something bad, fair enough.
“But to try and stitch five of our players up, come on mate.
“It’s country footy for god’s sake.
“The whole footy club is pissed off.”
But Akermanis, who signed off on the video reviews, hit back, saying the Pigeons were a “dirty” team.
“That’s not why we lost, we lost because we didn’t play well enough,” Akermanis said.
“(But) to find no one accountable doesn’t give me much faith in the (video review) system.
“Those (Yarrawonga) boys continue to get away with roughing up our blokes.
“They are a dirty team and they get away with it.”
Two players were reported from the match – Barnes and North Albury’s Nick Holman, who was suspended for three games for striking Barnes.
Yarrawonga president Andrew Mott also weighed into the debate, saying he, too, was disappointed in Akermanis.
“That’s not what it (the video review) was set up for,” Mott said.
“Aker can think about it all summer and we’ll concentrate on this weekend.”
Yarrawonga goes into Sunday’s knockout semi-final with Wodonga Raiders unchanged, while the Raiders welcome back Jydon Neagle and Jake Goldsmith.
Albury named Dean Polo and Jay Koehler for Saturday’s semi-final against Lavington at Birallee Park.
The Panthers are unchanged from last week.
