Quicky
Brownlow Medallist
- May 27, 2008
- 25,790
- 31,865
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
- Other Teams
- Socceroos, Melbourne Victory
Andrew Krakouer #3
D.O.B: 4-2-83, Height: 176, Weight: 78,
Games: 125 Goals: 137
Andrew Krakouer's is one of the more heart warming stories in footy. A story of redemption borne out of a violent and life changing act. In 2006 a then 23 year old Krakouers career at Richmond was at the cross roads. Always a mercurial player Krakouer had struggled to find consistency and shake the legacy of his storied yet troubled family. It was in the off season of that year when Andrew and his brother Tyrone ended up in a fight fuelled by a family feud and alcohol. His victim was Justin Martin who ended up in hospital with serious head injuries. The charge was greivous bodily harm, a charge which he was later found guilty of and sentenced four years in prison for. He had followed in the legacy of his family on the field, and with his father imprisoned years earlier on drug trafficking offences, he had followed it off the field too.
It was at this point that Andrews life changed and the transformation took shape. It would have been easy to let his life spiral further out of control at this point but Krakouer never one to look back worked hard at moving forward. He used his time in prison to get into the best shape of his life. He was granted day release to play footy for the Woorooloo prison side in 2008. The next year following and early release from prison he found a home at Swan Districts in the WAFL under the tutelege of former AFL star Peter Matera.
It was his performances at Swan Districts, including an incredible 42 possession four goal grand final, that captured the attention of Collingwood. In a clever drafting coup Collingwood ensured the services of Krakouer by arranging the Gold Coast to prelist him utilising their concessions, before on trading him along with Jonathon Ceglar and some minor draft picks for the Pies first round national draft pick.
Andrew Krakouer did not disappoint in his first year at Collingwood. It was apparent that Andrew had not lost any of his magic but he was a noticeably more mature and consistent player than in his troubled years at Richmond. At Collingwood Krakouer slotted seemlessly into a position in the forward line. The master of the baulk Krakouer consistently conjured goals from the ether and more often than not in moments the side most needed them. Krakouer amassed 23 games 35 goals and the mark of the year in his first year at the Pies. He fell agonisingly short of a third premiership in as many years, after triumphs at Woorooloo and Swan Districts, only to lose to Geelong in the grand final. It wasn't for his lack of effort contributing 3 goals and plenty of momentum but the Geelong juggernaut in the end was too powerful.
2012 is a year that promises much for Krakouer. One criticism of the Collingwood side in season 2011 was that at times it relied too heavily on too few in the midfield and that the forward line lacked pace. Considering this it can be theorised that a natural progression for Krakouer would be into the midfield, a position that he acquitted himself so well in during his time in the WAFL. Lets hope he can help the team take that extra step in the season to come.
D.O.B: 4-2-83, Height: 176, Weight: 78,
Games: 125 Goals: 137
Andrew Krakouer's is one of the more heart warming stories in footy. A story of redemption borne out of a violent and life changing act. In 2006 a then 23 year old Krakouers career at Richmond was at the cross roads. Always a mercurial player Krakouer had struggled to find consistency and shake the legacy of his storied yet troubled family. It was in the off season of that year when Andrew and his brother Tyrone ended up in a fight fuelled by a family feud and alcohol. His victim was Justin Martin who ended up in hospital with serious head injuries. The charge was greivous bodily harm, a charge which he was later found guilty of and sentenced four years in prison for. He had followed in the legacy of his family on the field, and with his father imprisoned years earlier on drug trafficking offences, he had followed it off the field too.
It was at this point that Andrews life changed and the transformation took shape. It would have been easy to let his life spiral further out of control at this point but Krakouer never one to look back worked hard at moving forward. He used his time in prison to get into the best shape of his life. He was granted day release to play footy for the Woorooloo prison side in 2008. The next year following and early release from prison he found a home at Swan Districts in the WAFL under the tutelege of former AFL star Peter Matera.
It was his performances at Swan Districts, including an incredible 42 possession four goal grand final, that captured the attention of Collingwood. In a clever drafting coup Collingwood ensured the services of Krakouer by arranging the Gold Coast to prelist him utilising their concessions, before on trading him along with Jonathon Ceglar and some minor draft picks for the Pies first round national draft pick.
Andrew Krakouer did not disappoint in his first year at Collingwood. It was apparent that Andrew had not lost any of his magic but he was a noticeably more mature and consistent player than in his troubled years at Richmond. At Collingwood Krakouer slotted seemlessly into a position in the forward line. The master of the baulk Krakouer consistently conjured goals from the ether and more often than not in moments the side most needed them. Krakouer amassed 23 games 35 goals and the mark of the year in his first year at the Pies. He fell agonisingly short of a third premiership in as many years, after triumphs at Woorooloo and Swan Districts, only to lose to Geelong in the grand final. It wasn't for his lack of effort contributing 3 goals and plenty of momentum but the Geelong juggernaut in the end was too powerful.
2012 is a year that promises much for Krakouer. One criticism of the Collingwood side in season 2011 was that at times it relied too heavily on too few in the midfield and that the forward line lacked pace. Considering this it can be theorised that a natural progression for Krakouer would be into the midfield, a position that he acquitted himself so well in during his time in the WAFL. Lets hope he can help the team take that extra step in the season to come.
