Aker tees off over Bulldogs great’s ‘biased’ ABC appearance

Controversial former AFL star Jason Akermanis has lashed his former teammate for being “two-faced” after he appeared on a “very biased” Four Corners.

Controversial former AFL star Jason Akermanis has lashed the ABC’s Four Corners investigation into why no AFL player has come out as gay as “very biased”.

The three-time premiership player and Brownlow medallist with the Brisbane Lions moved to the Bulldogs later in his career and appeared on Monday night’s program which highlighted a column he wrote 13 years ago published in the Herald Sun with the headline “Stay in the Closet”.

In the fallout from that Western Bulldogs great Bob Murphy says he was “disgusted” and “hurt” and Akermanis was soon booted from the club.

Akermanis told the Herald Sun he was unfairly labelled a homophobe and treated poorly by Murphy who he labelled “two-faced”.

“ABC is not fair and just like it’s supposed to be and show both sides. It was very biased,’’ Akermanis said.

Jason Akermanis says he was booted from the Bulldogs in the fallout from his column.

“Just because someone hasn’t come out yet doesn’t mean the AFL isn’t doing enough.

“Everyone knows there is a strong culture in AFL and it’s not really anyone’s business.

“I played with (a gay player) at Brisbane and none of us cared. It didn’t worry me, I’ve got gay friends, its your business.”

Akermanis said he’s not “anti-anything” and said he was angered by Murphy’s comments aired on the program.

“He just showed me his true colours again,’’ Akermanis said.

“The amount of people who contacted me to say how disappointed they are in the program and his behaviour is staggering.

Bob Murphy told ABC’s Four Corners that he was ‘disgusted’ by Akermanis’ comments 13 years ago. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s about himself, he never spoke to me or showed that he cares about his teammate.

“I wrote a column that was an observation, it wasn’t gospel.

“He’s a complete myth.

“With his help and the Bulldogs they made sure the AFL industry didn’t employ me. He was rubbishing my brand and he avoided me until I got sacked.

“Don’t tell us you’re all high and mighty and the reality is the opposite. He sooked it up then and he still is.

“He’s so two-faced and after all these years he still hasn’t got (the situation) out of his head.”

The program featured comments from identities including Eddie McGuire and Tanya Hosch from the AFL.

Murphy, who now works at the Fremantle Dockers, said he hoped a player would soon feel comfortable to come out.

“I would think that for a player to stand in front of his teammates and say, ‘I’m gay and I’m one of you and I want you to accept me’, like that would be a superpower for your football team and club,’’ he said.