Jason Akermanis on Peter Canavan feud, controversy and Irish return

It was a few weeks out from the festival season, but in October 2000 the Irish sporting public had a new pantomime villain and, over two decades later, Jason Akermanis is heading back this way having been named last week as the new head coach of the Australian Masters side for their 2024 tour.

The senior international rules side will play tests against Ireland in Galway and Cavan next March with Lisa Ropere taking care of the inaugural women's touring team.

The Australian information pack released alongside the tour dates informed potential applicants that there is a strict 'no d***heads’ rule in place.

Some may expect Peter Canavan to have a wry smile at that particular written inclusion, he’s bound to have called Akermanis a lot worse during and after two infamous Croke Park tests as the pair came to blows on a number of occasions. One national newspaper exclaimed that ‘Aker’ would have been better off playing caid in the 19th century, in what was a rather cultured insult.

With his peroxide blonde hair, Akermanis, who would win the Brownlow Medal for best player in the AFL the following season, already stood out against an Irish side still too cautious to wear anything but black boots and generally stayed safe with a two on the sides and a three on top.

By the time they were making their homeward journey to Australia, Akermanis had rubber-stamped his name all over the series.

Canavan and Akermanis had previous heading into the 2000 series.

The year before, Ireland had won after victory in Melbourne and a draw in Adelaide with Akermanis being named Australia’s Player of the Series for his tight-marking job on the RTÉ GAA pundit.

Fast-forward 12 months and Australia’s Channel Seven commissioned an inside documentary for the 2000