Players On The Move

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Former Brisbane premiership player and Bulldog Jason Akermanis has signed on to play for Glenorchy in the Tasmanian Football League. In his own inimitable style, Akermanis said he wants to add more of an entertainment factor to the league.

Former Swan Luke Ablett (cousin to Gary and Nathan) has signed with the Mulgrave Footy team in the Essendon Football League. Mulgrave is currently in Division One. Ablett played 133 games with the Swans including the 2005 Premiership before being delisted at the end of 2009. He then joined VFL club Box Hill for 2010 but his season was curtailed by injury. Mulgrave won their first premiership in 31 years this past season. Ablett, who has also been working with the AFL developing education programs for community clubs, said he was looking forward to instilling the Sydney team ethos in his new teammates.

Former Brisbane and Essendon player Damian Cupido has quit the North Albury club (Albury is in NSW just north of the NSW-Victoria border) to return to Melbourne where he will take up a position as a playing assistant coach with suburban club Croydon in the Eastern Football League. He will be assistant to former Fitzroy and North Melbourne player Brett Chandler (26 games Fitzroy 1995-96 and 44 games North 1997-2000).

Cupido will return to his home Eastern Football League club after only one season with the Hoppers to play under former North Melbourne and Fitzroy player Brett Chandler. Cupido said it was a tough decision but is looking forward to returning to Melbourne where his parents live as well as returning to his former club. Employment was a factor in his decision.

Cupido was drafted by Brisbane in 1999 and debuted in 2000 but missed most of 2001 and all of 2002 with a shoulder injury and could not win back his place in the strong Brisbane team. He played 13 games with the Lions. He was traded to Essendon, the club he supported growing up, at the end of 2002 and played 40 games. A knee injury wrecked his 2004 season and he was delisted at the end of 2005 due to injury and poor form. In 2006, he headed to South Australia where he played in the SANFL with South Adelaide and West Adelaide. He was representing SA in cricket during the Australian Country tournament when recruited by the North Albury football club. He plans to return to Albury after Christmas to complete his commitment to the cricket team.

Delisted Hawk Beau Muston has decided to remain with Hawthorn's VFL affiliate Box Hill if he is not picked up by another AFL club in the preseason draft. Also joining NT clubs after being delisted are Cameron Stokes (Hawthorn), Malcolm Lynch (Western Bulldogs) and Relton Roberts (Richmond). Cameron's brother Jason (76 games with Collingwood 2002-2006) has quit the Bendigo Bombers to sign with Spotswood in the Western Region Football League.

Source: abc.net.au, heraldsun.net.au, smh.com.au, bordermail.com.au, Encyclopedia of League Footballers

West Coast has delisted premiership player Ashley Hansen to make room for a younger player via the rookie or preseason draft. Hansen, 27, debuted for the Eagles in 2004 and played 78 games. He managed just three games in 2010 despite showing good form in the WAFL. He was a member of WAFL club Swan Districts 2010 Premiership and starred with five goals in the preliminary final. He kicked a total of 48 goals for the season in the WAFL.

Along with the 2006 Premiership, Hansen was named the Eagles' rookie of the year in 2005 and best clubman in 2007. Coach John Worsfold said it was a tough decision to let Hansen go because he had been a fine contributor and was highly regarded by everyone at the club. He conceded that Hansen's body was not up to the rigors of AFL football as Hansen had missed a number of games each season through injury. Hansen said he was disappointed, believing his body could hold up, but accepted the Eagles' decision. He said he will take some time to consider his future.

Source: Anna Carew-Reid, Club Media Release