Mal Michael Biography

The Brisbane Lions have finally had enough of Jason Akermanis, and have said so publicly with Brisbane coach Michael Voss demanding that Akermanis explain comments about the Lions made to the media.

Akermanis accused former teammates Justin Leppitsch and Mal Michael of being petty and snubbing his 2001 wedding because they felt he didn't deserve his Brownlow that year.

"Our fundamental philosophy is that our club is our people - eventually you have to sit there and say `you can't possibly take that'," Voss said.

Mal Michael announces his retirement at the end of the season saying that the pace of the game had increased to the point where players relying on strength such as himself were near redundant.

"I came to the realisation that the way football has evolved just doesn't suit my frame and my body size any more," Michael said.

"It really is a running man's game - when I started it was all about gaining weight and being heavy.

"I turned up at Collingwood at 68kg, I am 100kg now and I encourage [young players] to be better runners than to be heavier, because that is just the way the game has gone."

Michael says he will pursue his interests in charity work in his homeland of Papua New Guinea once his career ends.

"I am from Papua New Guinea and next year will give me a chance to pursue that in more of a full-time role," Michael said.

"In 2002 I returned to Papua New Guinea after many years and saw the troubles that the country had. So I would like to help in some ways."