Aker had his chances

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Western Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson has responded to Jason Akermanis' claims he devised a player revolt that led to the Brownlow Medallist's sacking.

The controversial Akermanis was sensationally sacked by the club on Wednesday for what the Western Bulldogs say was a series of breaches over 18 months that had led to the playing group no longer trusting him.

A three-time premiership player with the Brisbane Lions, Akermanis then returned fire on Thursday, saying the Dogs had no proof of their accusations he had leaked club information and that Johnson had rallied the team against him by claiming he criticised senior players in his biography to be launched this year.

But the Bulldogs captain on radio station Mix 101.1 said Akermanis had failed to heed repeated warnings his team-mates were unhappy with his antics.

"We've got our trademarks that we live by on a day-to-day basis and we will not go outside of that as a team and if someone does we will sit them down and we will give them a chance and in Jason's case get the trust back within the football playing group," Johnson said on Friday.

"That was put to him."

Johnson said he had not personally instigated the latest unrest; rather it was borne of a weekly leadership group meeting.

"It was decided we get a few more players in just to get their thoughts on whether or not he had regained the trust within the playing group and there was 100 percent consensus that that hadn't been achieved and therefore it's my role as captain to inform Rocket (coach Rodney Eade)," he said.

"Unfortunately for his case, that trust wasn't regained so therefore the club makes a decision and we move on now."

"I didn't go behind his back at all."

Akermanis on Thursday night said he had received messages from team-mates claiming they did not want him sacked.

"I take responsibility for my actions, but don't get on radio and tell a whole bunch of people of mistruths about what's going on behind when I get text messages from three players and phone calls from four players," he told the Nine Network's The Footy Show.

Chief executive Campbell Rose, on the same show, said the Bulldogs had lost patience with Akermanis.

"We play a team sport and team sports are teams over individuals and in this set of circumstances (the trust has failed) between Jason and the playing group and the coaches, and then it permeates throughout the whole of the club," Rose said.

"Those circumstances could not prevail leading into the finals."

Johnson, a veteran of 356 matches, said the saga would not affect the Bulldogs' quest to break their 56-year premiership drought.

"I'm not upset at all and I'm more than focused and more than comfortable with the club's decision," he said.

"He'll get on with his life and we'll get on with finishing the season the way we want to and that's achieving a top four spot."

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