The Aker rumour mill

[floppinab]

Where would you fit him.

He's probably not an onballer anymore unless you pinch hit with him, and up forward it would have to be at the expense of Buchanan, Schneider, McVeigh or Davis, all of which are going to give us more service than we'll get from Aker.
We'd be giving up a lot to get him, more than just McVeigh.

[Provost]

Originally posted by floppinab
Where would you fit him.

Out: MOL
In: Aker

I don't want to see him come to Sydney as I belive he would be an unwanted disruption to the club. Will not fit into the 'TEAM' style of play that we have got going.

[Destructive]

I'll beilive it when I see him run out for the Swans.

[NMWBloods]

Obviously Lockett was recruited before said policy, but I'm simply talking about the concept and the potential to pass up quality recruits for silly reasons. The only people who can really determine if someone is a dhead are the football people, not the spectators.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
The only people who can really determine if someone is a dhead are the football people, not the spectators.

A friend of mine who knows Aker but knows nothing about football says Aker is a very quiet, considerate person. However, he has constructed his persona (and made a lot of money) out of being a loudmouth. He says things the club doesn't want revealed and that would conflict with Roos' policy of empowering players. So if we go for Aker we'll go away from the democratic system that has taken the Swans to a Premiership. I reckon it won't happen.

And the signs are he's past it anyway. I'm very impressed with his perfomance last year as I expected to see him fade back then.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
No one knew what it would do for Hall (or for Lockett for that matter). General consensus was they were both dheads before coming to the Swans.

People around here don't think that Hall is a @@@@head, and he grew up in the next town to Seymour/Puckapunyal. But there is one common thread with the 2 you have noted....even before they had a @@@@head for a coach.

[S.U.D]

I always thought that the no @@@@heads policy applied more to off-field behaviour, late nights etc. Therefore creating disruptions to the team fiber and behaving like a single unit. Generally being a bad influence on other team members.

I think that both Lockett and Hall were okay on this front. Both seemed to get into trouble on the field and get suspended on a fairly regular basis. But I don't think either were a bad example or influence for other team members off-field.

But I think aker fails the no @@@@heads policy on the off-field behaviour, in particular mouthing off in the media. This can disrupt the playing group, so no to him I think.

[canetoad]

Gee I hope not, I always thought he was loopy. I dont even think Paul Roos could control him.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by goswannie14
People around here don't think that Hall is a @@@@head

I suspect most people here thought Hall and Lockett were dheads before they came to the Swans.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I suspect most people here thought Hall and Lockett were dheads before they came to the Swans.

Are there any Saints players that aren't?

[Eala ?ireann]

I'd take him at the drop of a hat!

He's good for another 2 great seasons of genius footy!

...and he's a good laugh!

[Ryan Bomford]

How old is he?

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Ryan Bomford
How old is he?

Physically or mentally.

[Claret]

29

[Chubby Muffler]

Aka? No.

I have no idea if Plugger is or was a dhead before he joined the Swans but there were some solid reasons for getting him to the club. Although his 93 and 94 seasons were not complete, he still managed to kick over 50 from 10 games in each year. He was a huge name in the game and would therefore generate alot of publicity in Sydney when it was needed, especially after the 92/3/4 seasons. The Craven incident was not nice (never seen it but know what happened) but it was on the field and aggression was always a strong part of Lockett's game. Too big a name to say no too, IMHO.

Hall came with a much weaker record than Lockett, had never kicked a ton or won the Coleman. He was a hot head on the field and never fulfilled his potential at St Kilda. However he was BBBBH, a big name and a instant figure head for the club to promote. Just like Lockett.

Both these guys wanted to escape the fishbowl that is Melbourne and no doubt some of the more feral Saint supporters as well. Hall took longer to settle than Lockett but he did in the end, it took Anger Managment courses and some nurturing from the coach and the team but it worked. Hall, I believe, realised that his worth to the team was more than smacking few players in the head and realised he could be extremely valuable and a good leader. He couldnt do that on suspension though.

That brings me to Aka. He is a game breaker when he is on form and very exciting to watch. He is however a bit of tool and remains that way after a long period being coached by Mathews, who I respect as a coach. He is too risky a proposition IMHO and would be too destabilising to the playing group. Can you imagine reading some of the load he writes as a fan of the team he plays for. It's all a bit of a giggle when you read it about Brisbane but it would do my head in as a Swan fan.