Jason Akermanis helped Tasmanian side Glenorchy to a handy win over reigning premiers Clarence in his first game since being shunned by the Western Bulldogs.

The Brownlow medallist and triple premiership player during his time with the Brisbane Lions played well without starring as his adopted side skipped away to a 36-point win.

He finished the night with 23 touches and a trademark snapping goal, as well as a handstand to the delight of a massive home crowd.

The match was hyped as one of the greatest ever events in Tasmanian football history and more than 8,400 people turned up to watch - the biggest crowd at the venue since Dire Straits played in the 1980s.

It was a carnival-like atmosphere at the KGV Ground, with Darth Vader and three storm troopers even making a mysterious appearance at half-time.

Akermanis started the game poorly, giving away a free kick for a push in the back before he'd even touched the ball.

But he gradually settled into the game, rotating through the midfield and up forward as the game wore on, setting the crowd alight when he deftly snapped a goal in the second term.

Akermanis said he was rapt just to be playing again.

"The boys, the crowd, local footy at its best tonight," he said.

"I thought the boys put on a great show. The music, the big crowd, we like to see Glenorchy people out and about."

He said he struggled with the pace of the game early on.

"I just got an awful cramp, but if I didn't I wasn't working hard enough," he said.

"I felt like I had jelly legs, nothing was going right."

Akermanis said he had been surprised with the high standard of the game.

"That was bloody good ... it was intense," he said.

"I didn't know what I was getting myself into."

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