Controversial former footy star Jason Akermanis has branded ex-teammate Bob Murphy ‘a complete myth’ and a ‘sook’ after Murphy criticized him for his comments about gay AFL players.
Murphy recently broke a 13-year silence about former teammate Akermanis and the controversial newspaper column he wrote that led to his firing from the Western Bulldogs.
Akermanis was a talented but polarizing figure in his AFL career with the Brisbane Lions and the Bulldogs, sparking controversy in 2010 when he wrote about homosexuality in sports.
The three-time premiership winner’s column was headlined ‘stay closeted’ and urged gay AFL players to keep quiet lest they bear the ‘burden’ of being the first player in the league who is openly gay.
To this day, no AFL player has come out.
Akermanis (pictured, ball in hand) has branded his ex-Bulldogs teammate Bob Murphy ‘with two faces’ and a ‘sook’
Former Western Bulldogs player Bob Murphy (pictured front, right) has spoken out against Akermanis and his column
Murphy said on ABC’s Four Corners that he was “disgusted,” “embarrassed” and “hurt” by Akermanis’ controversial comments.
Akermanis has since responded to the program and his ex-teammate’s comments.
“He just showed me his true colors again,” Akermanis told the newspaper Announce sun.
“The number of people who contact me to say how disappointed they are with the program and its behavior is staggering.
“He’s about himself, he’s never spoken to me or shown 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 kept the AFL industry from hiring me. He made fun of my brand and avoided me until I was fired.
“Don’t tell us that you are all high and mighty and the reality is the opposite. He ate it then and he still is.
Murphy to this day refuses to name Akermanis and denounced his former teammate after 13 years of silence for his newspaper column
“He’s kind of two-faced and after all these years he still can’t get the situation out of his head.”
At the time in 2010, Akermanis doubled down on comments in the column, telling Channel Nine that he felt gay players would be targeted if they came out.
“There’s a kind of gay hunt going on where we’re trying to get people out,” he told The Nine Network today.
“I’m not sure that’s very safe and healthy for competition. What you do privately is your business.’
Akermanis was fired by the Bulldogs two months after the column was published.
In the Four Corners report on homosexuality in football, former teammate Murphy gave Akermanis a beating for his actions, but still refuses to call him by his name.
“I was disgusted, I was embarrassed and I was hurt,” Murphy said.
“But then the pain took a turn – ‘what if one of my teammates is gay?
“I wanted to notify the author (Akermanis) and say – I think what I said to him was – ‘that disgusting shit you wrote in the paper’.
“For me, at that time in my life, I was like, ‘We’re done.’
Akermanis does not budge on his stance, saying his ex-teammate is a “complete myth”.
Akermanis – now working as a broker in Brisbane – will not retract his stance in 2023 either.
“I got branded everything — homophobic, you name it,” he said.
“Just because I’m writing about it and you don’t agree with it doesn’t mean… that I’m scared of gays, which is just complete nonsense.
“Look, I personally don’t care anyway. As long as you don’t sort of throw it in my face or tell me what I’m not interested in. I’m not going to tell people what I do in my private life.’
‘Why bother. We don’t care, it’s up to you. Why would you want that? Think about it. Is it worth it? They are good questions to ask. You have to weigh it up. It’s a heavy burden.’
Reporter Louise Milligan then asked, “There were people who disagreed with what you said. What about the people who were hurt by what you said?’
Akermanis responded, “I always say to anyone who’s hurt, that’s your problem, that’s your problem.” If you need help, go get it.’
Murphy made an impassioned plea for all current cabinet AFL players to come out, saying they would be supported by the players and the league.
“You will be fought for and supported,” said the former Bulldogs captain.
“If there was a dissenting voice, they told them to shut up or leave.”