Aker reveals his approach to life

Guest speaker Jason Akermanis.

“What exactly is wrong with Jason Akermanis?”

That question has long been pondered by Australian Rules fans and commentators alike, but yesterday the former Brownlow medal winner gave an insight into the motor behind his famous mouth.

Speaking at a luncheon at the Maroochy-Northshore Aussie Rules club, Akermanis revealed it was his battle with crippling depression as a teenager and his mother’s untimely death to brain cancer that spurred on his take-no-prisoners approach to life.

While his often blunt and starkly honest observations led to his sacking by the Western Bulldogs in July, he said he had played his career without regret.

He first developed a taste for the flamboyant during his recovery from a roller-blading accident and a subsequent battle with depression as a 14-year-old.

During his three-month recovery, Akermanis said, he spent his time sprawled out on a mattress in front of the television and watching American sports.

He said the bravado and ostentatiousness of the US athletes rubbed off on him and later surfaced in his own personality.

However, the truly defining moment of his life came when his 41-year-old mother, Shona – a woman who had never smoked or drank, and walked to work every day – was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer when Akermanis was just 20.

“When I saw my mum there I said, ‘Right, that’s it. I’ll get better friends, I’ll enjoy my life and I’ll have some fun,’” he said.

“I wanted to play footy and that’s exactly what I did. In the end I got the silly coloured hair and goatee, I did the handstands and entertained the crowd all my life.

“I don’t care. When I watched those American guys on TV, they looked like they were enjoying it. What did they do? They talked it up. Because if you don’t, well, it’s going to be pretty boring.”