Akermanis, one of the most decorated footballers in AFL/VFL history, captivated his Daylesford Town Hall audience.

From his upbringing at Mildura to becoming a schoolyard bullying victim to the death of his mother, Akermanis spoke for an hour on the travails and triumphs of his life.

Now established as a sporting superstar, Akermanis told of his days at a Queensland school when he was bashed simply for playing AFL, rather than rugby league.

He said the experience shaped his life.

"I've never forgotten it," he said.

"There are things that happen in your life and they shape the person you become.

"I was belted for no other reason than the fact I was having a kick-to-kick."

Like many of his on-field encounters, Akermanis had the last laugh.

"I opened the door one day and there were two guys there to deliver a new fridge," he said.

"One of them was the bloke who hit me at school.

"I opened the door and said "Just take the fridge down there somewhere, past the 35 rooms.

"They hadn't grown much since school, but I had and I was doing alright out of football."

Akermanis spoke of his passion for country football, while also lifting the lid on his fraught relationships with former Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews.

Akermanis says the pair have sorted out their differences after several public squabbles last year.

Akermanis donated the boots he wore in his 300th game for auction with the $300 proceeds going to the DFNC.

Several other items of sporting memorabilia and merchandise were sold.

Club officials were elated with Akermanis's speech and his subsequent question and open session.

No topic was off limits and Aker lived up to his reputation as football's straightest shooter.

Along with Essendon's Dick Reynonds, Hawthorn's Shane Crawford, Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto and Port's Gavin Wanganeen, Akermanis is a member of football's most elite club.

The quintet are the only players to have played in a premiership, won a Brownlow medal and totalled 300 games or more.