Jason Akermanis
A brilliant, mercurial footballer whose audacious skill and game-breaking left foot powered a Brisbane Lions dynasty and divided opinion across the league.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Australian rules footballer·Birthday: February 24·Generation X
Biography
Jason Akermanis played Australian rules football with a flair that was impossible to ignore. In an era often defined by structure, 'Aker' was a burst of unpredictable genius. His career peaked during the Brisbane Lions' historic three-peat of premierships from 2001-2003, where his blistering pace, precise kicking, and knack for the spectacular made him the team's most dangerous weapon. Winning the Brownlow Medal in 2001 was a testament to his singular talent. Yet, his outspoken nature and controversial public statements often placed him at odds with teammates, coaches, and the media, leading to a tumultuous end to his time in Brisbane and a later stint with the Western Bulldogs. Love him or loathe him, Akermanis delivered moments of pure football magic that defined an era of dominance.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jason was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jason Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Jason's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Awarded the Brownlow Medal as the AFL's best and fairest player in 2001.
- Played a key role in the Brisbane Lions' three consecutive AFL premierships (2001, 2002, 2003).
- Named to the All-Australian team three times (2001, 2002, 2004).
- Kicked over 400 goals in his AFL career, many from spectacular long-range efforts.
Did You Know?
He is a qualified pilot and has flown light aircraft.
He famously kicked a goal after the siren to win a match for the Brisbane Lions against Essendon in 2004.
He wrote a controversial newspaper column during his playing career that frequently critiqued the AFL and other players.
“You can't play this game in straight lines; you have to create angles.”
