Andrew Krakouer

Andrew Krakouer
Personal information
Full name	Andrew James Krakouer
Date of birth	4 February 1983
Original team(s)	South Fremantle (WAFL)
Draft	No. 41, 2000 National Draft, Richmond
Height/Weight	176cm / 78 kg
Position(s)	Forward
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2001–2007 2011–2013 Total	Richmond Collingwood	102 (102) 035 0(50) 137 (152)
Representative team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
2010	WAFL	1 (1)
^1 Playing statistics correct to end of 2013 season.
Career highlights
WAFL representative side 2010 Sandover Medal 2010 Simpson Medal 2010 (Grand Final) Swan Districts best and fairest 2010 2011 Mark of the Year

Andrew James Krakouer (born 4 February 1983) is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for Richmond and for Collingwood in the AFL as well as for South Fremantle and for Swan Districts in the WAFL.

Early life

Krakouer is the son of Jim Krakouer and nephew of Phil Krakouer.He began playing senior football for South Fremantle in the WAFL. He is the cousin of Port Adelaide player Nathan Krakouer.

AFL career

Richmond

He was drafted with the 41st selection in the 2000 AFL Draft by Richmond, who had received the draft pick by trading Ben Harrison to the Western Bulldogs.

He, along with his brother Tyrone, was charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm on 24 December 2006 after an incident in Fremantle, Western Australia on 22 December 2006.^[1]

Krakouer was delisted by the Tigers on 22 October 2007.^[2]

Prison and WAFL football

He returned to Western Australia and played in the WAFL for Swan Districts.

He was found guilty in June 2008 of assault with intent to cause bodily harm, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' jail.^[3] He was sentenced to four years' jail with a minimum non-parole period of 16 months.^[4] The sentence was later reduced from 48 to 32 months' jail time.

Krakouer played for the Wooroloo Prison team, which participated in the Mercantile Football Association.^[5] Krakouer was released from prison on parole in August 2009, and signed on to play the 2010 football season for Swan Districts in the WAFL. He performed very well for the Swans, winning the 2010 Sandover Medal as the fairest and best player in the WAFL.^[6] He won the Simpson Medal as the best on ground in the Swans' one-point win against Claremont in the WAFL Grand Final, after amassing 42 disposals and kicking four goals, including the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute of the final quarter.^[7] A special analysis of the game showed that Krakouer would have polled 290 Champion Data ranking points (Supercoach points) in the game, more than any player has polled in an AFL game since the statistical technique was implemented in 2004.^[8]

AFL return

On 7 October 2010, Collingwood signed Krakouer. The newly established Gold Coast Suns agreed to pre-list him as one of its ten uncontracted players, and then immediately trade him (along with John Ceglar, and a draft pick from each of the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds) to Collingwood in exchange for its first round selection in the 2010 AFL Draft (pick number 25 overall).^[9] Krakouer was unable to join his new teammates on the club's pre-season training camp in Arizona, as his prior conviction meant he was denied entry to the United States.^[10]

Krakouer kicked 35 goals in 23 games in his first season with Collingwood, including three goals in the 2011 Grand Final loss to Geelong. He won the 2011 AFL Mark of the Year, receiving the Alex Jesaulenko Medal and a $10,000 cash prize from Hungry Jack's, for his mark in Round 9.

Krakouer ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a pre-season practice match in February 2012, and is expected to return to AFL later in the 2012 season.^[11]

In Early 2012 Krakouer changed his guernsey number to the number three after John McCarthy was delisted. His father, Jim wore this number for most of his career. However, during his rehabilitation from his knee injury he decided to revert to the number 7 he wore successfully in 2011.^[12]

Krakouer was delisted at the end of the 2013 season. ^[13]

In November 2013 Krakouer signed on to play for West Perth for the next 2 years.^[14] However, before the beginning of the 2014 season, Krakouer walked away from the contract with West Perth in favour of an employment opportunity in the mining industry, however the job opportunity didn't eventuate and so Krakouer finished his career off at West Perth playing 4 games. All up in his career Krakouer played a total of 227 league games: 137 AFL games which included 102 with Richmond and 35 with Collingwood, 36 WAFL games which included 32 for Swan Districts and 4 with West Perth and 54 VFL games which included 40 for Coburg Tigers (Richmond's VFL affiliate) and 14 games for Collingwood's VFL affiliate team - Collingwood. During his 227-game career Krakouer kicked 271 goals which included 102 for Richmond, 50 for Collingwood, 48 for Swan Districts, 8 for West Perth, 58 for Coburg Tigers and 5 for Collingwood's VFL affiliate - Collingwood .^[15]

References

1. "Richmond player on assault charge". Fox Sports. 24 December 2006.
2. "Krakouer punted". Fox Sports. 22 October 2007.
3. "Krakouer guilty of serious assault". The Age. 18 June 2008.
4. "Andrew Krakouer jailed for 16 months". The Australian. 30 July 2008.
5. Deceglie, Anthony (13 June 2009). "Andrew Krakouer back in action for prison team". Perth Now.
6. Ross, Lewis (13 September 2010). "Krakouer takes home the Sandover". The West Australian.
7. "Krakouer seals flag for Swans". The West Australian. 19 September 2010.
8. Ralph, Jon (24 September 2010). "Andrew Krakouer's SuperCoach WAFL grand final record". Herald Sun.
9. Witham, Jennifer (7 October 2010). "Pies give Krakouer second chance". AFL.com.au. BigPond.
10. Michell, Tim (13 November 2010). "Krakouer denied entry into US". Herald Sun.
11. McFarlane, Glenn (25 February 2012). "Collingwood forward Andrew Krakouer suffers season-ending knee injury". Herald Sun.
12. Niall, Jake (7 September 2012). "Freedom, family and finals football again: Andy Krakouer has much to celebrate". Brisbane Times.
13. Rielly, Stephen (10 September 2013). "Collingwood makes six list changes". collingwoodfc.com.au. BigPond.
14. Townsend, John (16 November 2013). "Falcons crow over Krakouer deal". The West Australian.
15. Malcolm, Alex (11 February 2014). "Mining job lures former Magpie Andrew Krakouer away from high-level footy". AFL.com.au. BigPond.

External links

• Andrew Krakouer's profile on the official website of the Collingwood Football Club
• Andrew Krakouer's statistics from AFL Tables