Among all the unforgettable moments of the Brisbane Lions premiership hat-trick one moment is as vivid as any … the clutch goal which clinched the 2002 grand final against Collingwood. It was a classic piece of Jason Akermanis wizardry. Responding to a message from coach Leigh Matthews to ‘get to the front’, he crumbed the ball beautifully off Alastair Lynch, steadied, and snapped brilliantly over his shoulder on his left foot.

It was typical Akermanis. The sort of mercurial individual effort which was the trademark of a player known for his freakish football talents. Blindingly quick, with an incredible goal sense, he kicked the ball as well as anyone in the game’s history on his non-preferred foot. So well, in fact, that many wouldn’t know which was his natural foot.

In a Lions team full of inside ball-winners and competitive ‘hard nuts’, he was the icing on the team cake. Simply, he made them even better. A favourite with Lions fans, he was blessed with an astonishing ability to make the difficult look simple. Even handstands.

He worked his special brand of magic through 248 games and 12 years at the Lions, kicking 307 goals and winning three premierships, four All-Australian selections, the 2001 Brownlow Medal, two club championships, International Rules selection and a Jim Stynes Medal.

A product of the Mayne Tigers and now coaching in Albury, he was the second Queenslander behind Marcus Ashcroft to play 300 AFL games and holds the Queensland AFL games record at 325 after four years at the Western Bulldogs to finish out his career.

But ask him today and he’ll tell you he’s a Lions man through and through. He’s a proud Lions Life Member and now a member of the Lions Hall of Fame.

At a Glance:

Club/s:
Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Lions

Years
1995-96 (Bears Player)
1997-2006 (Lions Player)

Games 248

Goals 307

Honours/Awards
Brownlow Medallist (2001)
Lions Best & Fairest (1999, 2005)
Lions Premiership Player (2001, 2002, 2003)
Lions leading goal-kicker (2004)
All Australian (1999, 2001-02, 2004)
Lions Life Member
Lions Team of the Decade (1997-2006)

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