http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8682626%5E2764,00.html
Aker doubts wobbly Pies
JON RALPH
15feb04
BRISBANE'S human headline Jason Akermanis has questioned whether Collingwood has the mental strength to rebound from consecutive grand final losses.
Akermanis said Brisbane was ideally placed both physically and psychologically for a tilt at four straight premierships, and claimed no one could beat a full-strength Lions.
Collingwood had the personnel but would have to "conquer the demons".
"The question is, if it wasn't us (who beat them) it was someone else," he said.
"For them to come back, they have got mentally quite a challenging year. It is like Port Adelaide, you know. It is not that they are not capable, it is whether they believe they are capable, and that is up to them.
"I know the hardest thing for a group of players is to go back the next year and win the grand final and it takes a real strong resolve to do that.
"But after two losses, to get there again and conquer the demons . . . to get to grand finals is tough enough, and whether they are capable of that, whether that can happen, that is the question."
Akermanis said the Lions were not cocky or complacent, but knew what was required to win repeated premierships.
"A lot of the pressure is off now. We have achieved more than we thought we could, but if everything is right and everyone else has got their best team and we have got our best team, we believe we can take it up and beat any team, and I mean that in a good way, not in an overconfidence way.
"We have got the ability to do that. With the (questions over our) hunger and all that, it is kind of crap. You don't have to worry about that because with our guys the competitiveness in the group drives all that."
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy last week said the Brisbane dynasty was looking shaky and cast doubts on its ability to win another flag.
"They said that after we won the first one and the second one and then the third one, so what changes?" Akermanis countered.
The only question mark over the capacity to win that magical fourth trophy is injuries, with Chris Scott (groin) the worst hit on a list that includes Brownlow medallists Simon Black and Michael Voss.
Aker doubts wobbly Pies
JON RALPH
15feb04
BRISBANE'S human headline Jason Akermanis has questioned whether Collingwood has the mental strength to rebound from consecutive grand final losses.
Akermanis said Brisbane was ideally placed both physically and psychologically for a tilt at four straight premierships, and claimed no one could beat a full-strength Lions.
Collingwood had the personnel but would have to "conquer the demons".
"The question is, if it wasn't us (who beat them) it was someone else," he said.
"For them to come back, they have got mentally quite a challenging year. It is like Port Adelaide, you know. It is not that they are not capable, it is whether they believe they are capable, and that is up to them.
"I know the hardest thing for a group of players is to go back the next year and win the grand final and it takes a real strong resolve to do that.
"But after two losses, to get there again and conquer the demons . . . to get to grand finals is tough enough, and whether they are capable of that, whether that can happen, that is the question."
Akermanis said the Lions were not cocky or complacent, but knew what was required to win repeated premierships.
"A lot of the pressure is off now. We have achieved more than we thought we could, but if everything is right and everyone else has got their best team and we have got our best team, we believe we can take it up and beat any team, and I mean that in a good way, not in an overconfidence way.
"We have got the ability to do that. With the (questions over our) hunger and all that, it is kind of crap. You don't have to worry about that because with our guys the competitiveness in the group drives all that."
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy last week said the Brisbane dynasty was looking shaky and cast doubts on its ability to win another flag.
"They said that after we won the first one and the second one and then the third one, so what changes?" Akermanis countered.
The only question mark over the capacity to win that magical fourth trophy is injuries, with Chris Scott (groin) the worst hit on a list that includes Brownlow medallists Simon Black and Michael Voss.
......we will all just have to wait and see won't we
