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Crouch unmoved as Akers stirs
By Richard Hinds
March 23, 2004
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Not biting: Jared Crouch at training yesterday. The Swans tagger has not responded to Jason Akermanis's jibes. Photo: Wade Laube
Jason Akermanis is renowned for his celebratory post-match handstands but he is not so good at backflips. Given the opportunity yesterday to soften his attack on Swans tagger Jared Crouch, Akermanis instead turned up the heat before Brisbane's clash with the Swans at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Akermanis did not merely stand by his belief that the close-checking tactics of taggers were tantamount to cheating and Crouch was "the worst at it", he said the prospect of playing on the diminutive Swan in round one had inspired him throughout the pre-season.
So persistently outlandish have Akermanis's comments been during the past few years that their credibility has been greatly diminished.
"To be honest, he says so much that you don't even bat an eyelid," said Swans coach Paul Roos. "It's hard to really take it seriously or take it as an insult."
Akermanis was speaking yesterday on the Melbourne sports radio station SEN 1116. Promotions for his segment on that station virtually promise he will make a controversial remark each week and he rarely fails to deliver. At his first attempt, Akermanis grabbed headlines by suggesting the departure of his former teammate Steve Lawrence from St Kilda was the main reason the Saints would prosper this season. Lawrence had been involved in alcohol-related off-field incidents at Brisbane and St Kilda.
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Crouch has chosen not to respond to Akermanis's sledging, hardly surprising given his low-key nature.
A devout Christian and fitness fanatic who has not missed a Swans match in 132 games, the 26-year-old is so quiet and sober he caused raised eyebrows when he was spotted sipping a glass of white wine in the members' car park during the Melbourne spring racing carnival.
Though his tough defensive work was overshadowed by the exceptional performance of his fellow tagger Brett Kirk last year, Crouch was chosen to represent Australia in the international rules series against Ireland and his ability to pester Akermanis will be crucial as the Swans attempt to curb the brilliant Brisbane midfield.
In the Swans' two home-and-away victories over the Lions last year, Crouch twice limited Akermanis's output, though on the first occasion at the SCG the Brisbane midfielder was suffering from the flu.
While it is tempting to dismiss Akermanis's comments about Crouch as mere buffoonery, the Swans will be well aware the Brownlow medallist has a habit of backing up his words with outstanding performances.
Akermanis strutted and preened after kicking five goals in the Lions' grand final demolition of Collingwood. But while his straight-shooting coach Leigh Matthews was upset by that apparent lack of sportsmanship, even he has come to accept Akermanis seems to be at his best when the spotlight is on him.
In the past, some have suggested the Swans and the Lions should try to work up a bitter rivalry similar to that between NSW and Queensland in State of Origin rugby league. However, as the code's sole representatives in the northern states, the clubs are too empathetic to go to war. Especially while Roos's best mate is the Lions veteran full-forward Alastair Lynch.
If Akermanis's comments seem inflammatory, they are unlikely to cause lasting bad blood. They will, however, put even more pressure on Akermanis, Crouch and the umpires on Saturday. The Swans' early injury woes may have eased, with defender Ben Mathews and versatile Heath James given some chance of playing against Brisbane.
The pair had been expected to sit out the first match along with the unavailable Andrew Schauble, Stephen Doyle, Ben Fixter, Adam Schneider, Matthew Nicks and Rowan Warfe.
Three players from the Sydney area - highly rated draftee Jarrad McVeigh and rookie list players Aaron Rogers and Paul Bevan - may all make their debuts on Saturday night.
Lions captain Michael Voss is likely to play despite a chronic knee injury but Lynch (leg muscle strain) and full-back Justin Leppitsch (shoulder) are doubtful. Brisbane have already lost suspended centre half-forward Jonathan Brown.
By Richard Hinds
March 23, 2004
Print this article
Email to a friend
Not biting: Jared Crouch at training yesterday. The Swans tagger has not responded to Jason Akermanis's jibes. Photo: Wade Laube
Jason Akermanis is renowned for his celebratory post-match handstands but he is not so good at backflips. Given the opportunity yesterday to soften his attack on Swans tagger Jared Crouch, Akermanis instead turned up the heat before Brisbane's clash with the Swans at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Akermanis did not merely stand by his belief that the close-checking tactics of taggers were tantamount to cheating and Crouch was "the worst at it", he said the prospect of playing on the diminutive Swan in round one had inspired him throughout the pre-season.
So persistently outlandish have Akermanis's comments been during the past few years that their credibility has been greatly diminished.
"To be honest, he says so much that you don't even bat an eyelid," said Swans coach Paul Roos. "It's hard to really take it seriously or take it as an insult."
Akermanis was speaking yesterday on the Melbourne sports radio station SEN 1116. Promotions for his segment on that station virtually promise he will make a controversial remark each week and he rarely fails to deliver. At his first attempt, Akermanis grabbed headlines by suggesting the departure of his former teammate Steve Lawrence from St Kilda was the main reason the Saints would prosper this season. Lawrence had been involved in alcohol-related off-field incidents at Brisbane and St Kilda.
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Crouch has chosen not to respond to Akermanis's sledging, hardly surprising given his low-key nature.
A devout Christian and fitness fanatic who has not missed a Swans match in 132 games, the 26-year-old is so quiet and sober he caused raised eyebrows when he was spotted sipping a glass of white wine in the members' car park during the Melbourne spring racing carnival.
Though his tough defensive work was overshadowed by the exceptional performance of his fellow tagger Brett Kirk last year, Crouch was chosen to represent Australia in the international rules series against Ireland and his ability to pester Akermanis will be crucial as the Swans attempt to curb the brilliant Brisbane midfield.
In the Swans' two home-and-away victories over the Lions last year, Crouch twice limited Akermanis's output, though on the first occasion at the SCG the Brisbane midfielder was suffering from the flu.
While it is tempting to dismiss Akermanis's comments about Crouch as mere buffoonery, the Swans will be well aware the Brownlow medallist has a habit of backing up his words with outstanding performances.
Akermanis strutted and preened after kicking five goals in the Lions' grand final demolition of Collingwood. But while his straight-shooting coach Leigh Matthews was upset by that apparent lack of sportsmanship, even he has come to accept Akermanis seems to be at his best when the spotlight is on him.
In the past, some have suggested the Swans and the Lions should try to work up a bitter rivalry similar to that between NSW and Queensland in State of Origin rugby league. However, as the code's sole representatives in the northern states, the clubs are too empathetic to go to war. Especially while Roos's best mate is the Lions veteran full-forward Alastair Lynch.
If Akermanis's comments seem inflammatory, they are unlikely to cause lasting bad blood. They will, however, put even more pressure on Akermanis, Crouch and the umpires on Saturday. The Swans' early injury woes may have eased, with defender Ben Mathews and versatile Heath James given some chance of playing against Brisbane.
The pair had been expected to sit out the first match along with the unavailable Andrew Schauble, Stephen Doyle, Ben Fixter, Adam Schneider, Matthew Nicks and Rowan Warfe.
Three players from the Sydney area - highly rated draftee Jarrad McVeigh and rookie list players Aaron Rogers and Paul Bevan - may all make their debuts on Saturday night.
Lions captain Michael Voss is likely to play despite a chronic knee injury but Lynch (leg muscle strain) and full-back Justin Leppitsch (shoulder) are doubtful. Brisbane have already lost suspended centre half-forward Jonathan Brown.
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