JASON Akermanis — you might hear and read a little about him this week ahead of his Gabba homecoming on Saturday night.

The Western Bulldogs against the Brisbane Lions is a date many people have circled in red for a long time, simply because it is Akermanis' first game against his old club. The exiled favourite son is returning to the scene of many a triumph.

There will be plenty trying to build it up, regurgitating all sorts of stories and re-living the dramas of 2006. To be honest, I've had enough of it. But all the hype comes with the territory for Aka.

He even has been the focus of the Lions' pre-game advertising. Before last night's game against Richmond, the club had posted a special masthead on its website urging fans to "wear Maroon for Aka's return".

But to me, it's not all about hype. And it's not about who was right and wrong when he left the club. It's about closure.

There were no winners in the Akermanis saga, and I'm not about to apportion blame. Suffice to say, there were faults on both sides — Jason's and the club's, myself included.

The events leading up to his departure put a massive strain on a lot of people. Particularly Jason, coach Leigh Matthews and yours truly, as captain. And a lot of people probably would wish, if they could have the time over, they could do things differently.

But there wasn't a textbook on how to handle a situation where a home-grown, triple-premiership player, Brownlow medallist, dual club champion and four-times All-Australian splits in such a public fashion from the club where he'd played 248 games.

What it did for me, though, was underline just how important communication and relationship building is and how this is a forever moving target. It is something that needs to be constantly massaged and checked, and never taken for granted.

The club was as good for Aka as Aka was for the club. In complete unison, they tackled the might of the rugby codes in the north. It was sad that the relationship ended because as a group, we'd shared so much joy and success together. And Aka had been such a big part of all that. He'd been a champion player and a terrific marketing tool for the club and game. If I remember correctly, it was Aka who first gave away a replica football to a member of the crowd after a win. Now almost every club does it. His victory handstands were folklore.

But let's remember, too, that he thrived in an environment provided by the club and alongside a lot of teammates who were crucial to its success. They'd welcomed him as a teenager, given him an opportunity to follow his dream and worked tirelessly to help him.

It's a two-way street. Neither side can ever think they have done more for the relationship than the other. It's a mutual thing. Just like a marriage. Investing in a relationship takes time and patience. Time to understand people, to do the little things that make people feel worthwhile within any organisation.

It can be the time you spend with them on a personal front to really want to get to know them. To understand what drives them.

For the coach, it might be getting the players to understand the game plan and the role, importance and contribution they can have in executing the plan. Spending time in reward for effort, too, through acknowledgment of what they have done.

For a player, it might be demonstrating that belief by always putting the team first. Understanding that you are only one part of the overall unit, and that without the full unit, you cannot achieve maximum success — making sacrifices for the group.

In any relationship, you need to believe in the other person and what they stand for before the relationship can work. It needs mutual trust and respect. Investing in relationships is one critical way of convincing people that you are the right person to follow. And it needs both parties to be absolutely committed to each other.

You could have the most fantastic skill base and knowledge in the world; be the best coach or the most skilled player. You could know everything there is to know on a subject, and be totally armed for the challenge. But unless each party believes in the other, they will find another way, against the belief and the direction you are giving the organisation, because they don't believe in who you are, what you know and what you do.

To me, this is what fell apart in Brisbane last year; each party lost belief in the other. All the things that happened along the way, filling umpteen hours and pages of media time and space, only provided more evidence of this.

Aka lost belief in the club and perhaps where Matthews was taking the group. And Aka lost the respect and trust of those around him.

In the end, it became two parties going in two different directions. There was only one possible solution — a split.

And the future? I hope time will be the healer and that when the premiership reunions come around, all can be forgotten and we can enjoy the good times and restore a relationship between club and player.

As for Saturday night at the Gabba, I'm sure Aka will get a fair-dinkum contest from the players. Just as anyone would. Some fans will boo and some will cheer.

If he plays forward, as you'd expect, he'll probably find a close liaison with Robert Copeland. And "Bushy" will annoy the beejeebas out of him. Just as he tries to do to his opponent every week.

Somehow, though, I think Aka would love a win not just for the four points but to do one last lap of the Gabba and say a silent thank you to all his fans who have watched him over the journey — a lap I'm sure the Brisbane Lions team will want to deny him.