AFL Daily: Jason Akermanis backs Xavier Duursma's bow and arrow celebration, rolling footy news for Monday, July 22, 2019
The footy world was divided over Xavier Duursma's eye-catching bow and arrow goal celebration. But he has one fan in a triple premiership Lion.
Jason Akermanis has urged Xavier Duursma to back in his bow-and-arrow celebration as long as his teammates understand his motivations.
Akermanis post-match handstand became famous after games and then infamous when Western Bulldogs players banned it as too individual.
Duursma kicked a goal that brought Port Adelaide back to 16 points against Richmond at the MCG and unveiled his celebration, and after the match Ken Hinkley said he would talk to the first-year player about it.
He urged fans not to criticise Duursma too heavily but admitted there was a time and place for the celebration.
Akermanis said today he loved the celebration but believed Dogs players didn’t understand it was a way of interacting with fans post-match.
“Everyone comes up to me and says, 'There are no characters in the game any more, players can’t be themselves'. Then players get brow-beaten into not being who they are,” Akermanis said.
“His celebration is about the kick going straight through the middle. People are so sensitive about everything. To be honest, it’s the day and age where people want to listen to the outrage minority.
“The Dogs’ problem was they felt it was too individual. I only did it when we won and it was a celebration for the team, which is what I tried to explain to them. But they were pretty sensitive and wanted to win a flag and, to be honest, it’s a day and age where people listen to that minority who are outraged. Everyone should give him a break and let him enjoy his great footy and hope he can grow into the footballer we think he can be.”
Port Adelaide star and former captain Travis Boak tweeted his support for Duursma, showing the players were behind their young star.
“Just keep being you Xav. I Love the way you play and the way you go about it,” he wrote.
Originally published as AFL Daily: Jason Akermanis backs Xavier Duursma's bow and arrow celebration, rolling footy news for Monday, July 22, 2019
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