THE WESTERN Bulldogs will demote Jason Akermanis to the VFL for two weeks for the controversy generated by his newspaper article on gay footballers.

The club announced Akermanis' penalty after Tuesday's discussions with the veteran forward, who will serve it once he recovers from what could be a two-week hamstring injury.

Akermanis accepted the sanction, saying: "I have to take responsibility for everything I've done, and today is exactly that.

"I think it's a good outcome for everyone at the club and myself - and that is what we do here; we are a very supportive group.

"I can't really say what I expected except that we wanted an outcome that was mutually beneficial for everyone and I think that's exactly what's happened."

Akermanis will also step away from his media work for three weeks at his own instigation, though club general manager of football operations James Fantasia said Akermanis' teammates had asked him to "reassess his priorities to the group".

"Jason will suspend his media activities for three weeks in response to this request, and during that time, will consider whether his media and football activities have struck the appropriate balance," he said.

"In consequence, the playing group and management of the club have unanimously supported Jason and will continue to do so going forward."

Akermanis had been under fire for his article, which suggested gay footballers should stay in the closet.

He then claimed that inflammatory aspects of the column had been added by the newspaper, while Fantasia reiterated the club had not approved the final version.

On Tuesday morning Akermanis argued on radio station MTR, where he has a daily contract, that he could balance both his footballing career and media aspirations.

Defiant, he also said he expected to continue his segment on Wednesday.

Later on Tuesday, flanked by Fantasia and coach Rodney Eade, Akermanis said he had not considered retiring over the incident.

"At the end of the day, I want to play in this team so I'll do what it takes to play in that team and make sure that all parties, the club, the playing group and myself, are all on the same page, heading in the same direction and trying to win games of football," he said.

And he was confident he could rediscover the form that has eluded him this season.

"The guys need to get back on the horse, so to speak, and go and play good football and I need to get my body right and earn my spot back and that's what I'll do," Akermanis said.

Eade said the incident had not been a distraction for the team and had no bearing on Friday night's shock loss to Essendon.

"It hasn't had an impact. The column first up caused a furore but it didn't affect the club," he said.

"Then with Jason's apology last week, there was some media suggestions we were going to suspend him on Friday and there was some suggestions there was an ultimatum.

"For us, it didn't affect us Friday. I've heard people in the media say we were covering up our poor performance - that's garbage. We take responsibility for the way we're playing."

Akermanis has played 77 games in four seasons with the Dogs since his trade from the Brisbane Lions in acrimonious circumstances.

The 2001 Brownlow Medallist, he has played 325 career matches.