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The mystery and tragedy of Andrew Krakouer

15th February, 2012
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Richmond AFL player Andrew Krakouer arrives at the Fremantle court, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006. AAP Image/Norman Bailey
Roar Guru
15th February, 2012
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Mick Malthouse described Andrew Krakouer as “such a beautiful kid.” Eagles champion Peter Matera said “Everyone loved him on the footy field and we loved him off the field.” So why did this gentle, quiet kid kick a man into a coma?

The sentencing judge at his trial couldn’t believe that a person before her with no previous history of violence and such glowing references could have committed such a “brutal and cowardly” act.

In summing up she said, “It is still a mystery to me as to why you went over the top that night … there might be some underlying issues there.”

One of those issues you would think might be his father. Krakouer was just 11 years old when his dad, champion North Melbourne footballer Jim Krakouer, went to jail for nine years.

Despite the absence of a father during his formative years, Andrew went on to play for Richmond. His dad wasn’t one of the 77,000 people at the MCG who saw his son kick two goals on debut against Essendon in 2001.

It is some achievement for an indigenous player to make it to the AFL. Firstly, the game’s urban home is an alien one to kids from the Northern Territory and rural Western Australia.

In the past many have struggled to adapt to their new surroundings without the support of mentors and their extended family, or partners who refuse to move away from their own families.

Secondly, the fully professional defence-driven style of football is almost unrecognisable to those accustomed to playing in carefree skill-fests.

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And then for those who made the difficult transition – usually out-and-out stars – and enjoyed full AFL careers, there was the entrenched culture of racism.

There has always been a sense of unease in indigenous players’ relationships with their AFL careers. Although proud of making it to the elite level, they don’t always appear entirely comfortable with it.

Adored for their skills on the football field, they still suspect an underlying contempt for their heritage, even among their fans and teammates.

When St Kilda’s Nicky Winmar lifted his jumper and pointed to his chest in front of the contemptuous Collingwood crowd, he could easily have been standing in front of those Saints supporters he had heard racially denigrating his Aboriginal opponents.

Krakouer, though, appeared settled during his time at Richmond. He didn’t claim publically that he was the target of racism, nor did he exhibit the restlessness and homesickness that afflicted his cousin Nathan.

But then, outside a Fremantle nightclub in December 2006, he and his younger brother Tyrone set upon a young man, cracking his eye socket and damaging his kidneys.

Krakouer’s game began to fall apart in 2007 as he awaited trial.

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When he went to prison his two daughters were younger than he was when his father was incarcerated. It was family that sustained him while in prison: “Footy was the furthest thing from my mind. Being away from my girls was the hardest thing.”

But it seems it was family that had put him there in the first place. The assault was a result of a long-standing feud between female members of two families, which had included a king-hit on Krakouer in 2001 by the man he subsequently assaulted.

The father of the man attacked described the affair as “A bit of tribal punishment going on, but if justice is seen to be done then we’ll be happy with that.”

Krakouer’s football career was understandably deemed to be over. “Like his father before him, former Richmond AFL star Andrew Krakouer will almost certainly end an illustrious footballing career with a stint in jail,” ran one of the features.

Amazingly though, he was picked up by reigning premiers Collingwood, after producing one of the most dominant seasons by an individual player in the history of the WAFL.

Despite having to complete his first pre-season in near isolation (he was refused a US visa and so was unable to attend the club’s famed Arizona camp) he blossomed, forming a close relationship with Leon Davis and mentor Mick Malthouse. On television, he was asked often about his time in jail and his second chance. He was shy but forthcoming. He appeared content.

But then things began to unravel.

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In October Davis made the shock announcement that he was leaving the club to be with his family. It was suggested the All Australian was insulted by a reduced salary offer from the Pies.

In November, Krakouer’s manager Peter Jess made an unsuccessful approach to the club to grant his client a greater percentage of earnings gained from his Mark of the Year award. It is believed he is on base payments.

According to the club, Krakouer returned from the off-season overweight and troubled, and they have given him four weeks leave.

It was insinuated that the problems lay with family and money, but Mick Malthouse, genuinely concerned about Krakouer’s welfare, added another dimension. “I think we’ve just got to be so, so careful,” Malthouse said. “This could be a state of depression and if that’s the case then we’ve got to understand that as well. And you don’t need to have any skin colour to have depression. This is not about football, this is about life.”

Aside from mentioning that he made a mistake, Krakouer has never said why he assaulted his victim so badly. Onlookers were “shocked and horrified at the ferocity of the attack.” Did family honour require him to do it, or was it revenge, five years brewing, against the man who had punched him?

Perhaps he doesn’t know why. Like his father, he has said it’s important to look to the future. That is true, but only if one examines the real reasons that mistakes were made in the first place. The answer may lie in the psychological assessment of Krakouer ordered by the judge.

Whether it’s worry caused by family or financial problems, or a clinical case of depression, let’s hope Malthouse and others can still help him, and bring him back to the game for a third time.

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