Nathan Krakouer
Encyclopedia
Nathan Krakouer is an Australian Rules Football
er and an Indigenous Australian. He is the nephew of former North Melbourne
football players Jimmy Krakouer and Phil Krakouer
and cousin of current Collingwood
player Andrew Krakouer.
at a young age.
In 2006 he represented Australia's indigenous youth on tour to South Africa
with the "Flying Boomerangs
" to play against the South African national Australian rules team.
He was invited to 2006 AFL Draft Camp where despite weighing just 61 kilograms he impressed scouts with both acceleration and standing jump for his height.
club Port Adelaide Power in the 2006 AFL Draft. He was the player the Power was most surprised to be able to pick when it grabbed him at No. 39. Krakouer shone at the 2006 AFL Draft camp in Canberra
, setting a sizzling time in the 20 metre sprint on the second day of the camp. His time of 2.83 seconds puts his result in the top handful of all time, out of nearly a thirty players over the last 12 or 13 months. http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200610/s1756912.htm
Wearing the number 29 guernsey, he has played 11 games for Port in his debut 2007 AFL Season, despite coach Mark Williams
earlier predicting that he would not play for at least 2 years. As at the end of Round 7, he had an impressive total of 48 kicks, 24 marks, 18 handballs, 66 disposals and 4 goals. http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-port-adelaide-power--nathan-krakouer
His explosive speed and raw talent has been progressively emerging throughout the season. Notably, he played a crucial role in securing a win over North Melbourne
in Round 2, with a significant hand in 3 Port goals in 15 minutes; 3 such goals being in the last five minutes of the game. Krakouer was also the only Power player to take more than one inside-50 mark in Port's loss to the Crows in Showdown XXII.
As at the end of Round 7, Krakouer is ranked 6th among the AFL Rising Stars in total kicks and total marks, and 7th in total goals.http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-port-adelaide-power--nathan-krakouer
after suffering a season-ending hamstring strain in round 15. This led to speculation that Krakouer would seek a potential trade to the Fremantle Football Club
or West Coast Eagles
, two West Australian based clubs. However this never happened, with Krakouer stating: "I had a talk to Choco (Williams) and I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t tell him I wanted to go back. I felt like I couldn’t just walk out and I’m glad I didn’t."
who returned to his original position as a midfielder. Krakouer was dominant in this role, averaging over 20 possessions in the 2009 NAB Cup
, and being named in the Power's round 1 game of the season.
or homesickness speculations.
. He was the second uncontracted player to do so following Nathan Bock
who left Adelaide
. He left despite the disappointment of Port Adelaide who stated that given the commitment our football club has made to Nathan's development and welfare over the last four years, we are very disappointed at the way the matter has been handled in recent weeks. It was alluded to that Krakouer had already made the decision to leave Port Adelaide during the season, further highlighting criticism of the AFL's clause for the expansion teams ability recruit one uncontracter player from each of the 16 existing clubs.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and an Indigenous Australian. He is the nephew of former North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
football players Jimmy Krakouer and Phil Krakouer
Phil Krakouer
Phillip Brent "Phil" Krakouer is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club during the 1980s. Notable for his speed, freakish skills and an uncanny ability to pass the ball to his brother, Jim Krakouer, who also played for North Melbourne...
and cousin of current Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
player Andrew Krakouer.
Early life
Krakouer began his junior football in Western Australia before playing senior football with the Claremont Football ClubClaremont Football Club
The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
at a young age.
In 2006 he represented Australia's indigenous youth on tour to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with the "Flying Boomerangs
Flying Boomerangs
The Flying Boomerangs are the underage Indigenous Australian Australian rules football team.The team has played tests against the South African national Australian rules football team in both Australia and South Africa and more recently against an underage Papua New Guinea, the first international...
" to play against the South African national Australian rules team.
He was invited to 2006 AFL Draft Camp where despite weighing just 61 kilograms he impressed scouts with both acceleration and standing jump for his height.
2007
The slightly-built rookie teenager was recruited by AFLAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
club Port Adelaide Power in the 2006 AFL Draft. He was the player the Power was most surprised to be able to pick when it grabbed him at No. 39. Krakouer shone at the 2006 AFL Draft camp in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, setting a sizzling time in the 20 metre sprint on the second day of the camp. His time of 2.83 seconds puts his result in the top handful of all time, out of nearly a thirty players over the last 12 or 13 months. http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200610/s1756912.htm
Wearing the number 29 guernsey, he has played 11 games for Port in his debut 2007 AFL Season, despite coach Mark Williams
Mark M. Williams
Mark "Choco" Williams is a former Australian rules footballer who coached the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League from 1999 to 2010...
earlier predicting that he would not play for at least 2 years. As at the end of Round 7, he had an impressive total of 48 kicks, 24 marks, 18 handballs, 66 disposals and 4 goals. http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-port-adelaide-power--nathan-krakouer
His explosive speed and raw talent has been progressively emerging throughout the season. Notably, he played a crucial role in securing a win over North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in Round 2, with a significant hand in 3 Port goals in 15 minutes; 3 such goals being in the last five minutes of the game. Krakouer was also the only Power player to take more than one inside-50 mark in Port's loss to the Crows in Showdown XXII.
As at the end of Round 7, Krakouer is ranked 6th among the AFL Rising Stars in total kicks and total marks, and 7th in total goals.http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-port-adelaide-power--nathan-krakouer
2008
In 2008, Krakouer managed just 3 games for the Power due to recurring soft tissue injuries, and was granted permission by the club to return home to Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
after suffering a season-ending hamstring strain in round 15. This led to speculation that Krakouer would seek a potential trade to the Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
or West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
, two West Australian based clubs. However this never happened, with Krakouer stating: "I had a talk to Choco (Williams) and I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t tell him I wanted to go back. I felt like I couldn’t just walk out and I’m glad I didn’t."
2009, move to defence
In 2009, an improvement in fitness and bulk in Krakouer saw him move to the backlines playing as a "sweeper role" and essentially replacing Peter BurgoynePeter Burgoyne
Peter Gabriel Burgoyne is a former Australian rules footballer with Port Adelaide in the Australian Football League. He played primarily in midfield and on the half back flank.-Early life:...
who returned to his original position as a midfielder. Krakouer was dominant in this role, averaging over 20 possessions in the 2009 NAB Cup
2009 NAB Cup
The 2009 NAB Cup is the Australian Football League pre-season competition that was played before the Australian Football League's 2009 Premiership season begins. It culminated with the Final on 13 March 2009 played between Geelong and Collingwood and was won by Geelong...
, and being named in the Power's round 1 game of the season.
2010
In 2010, Krakouer was limited to 7 games with Port Adelaide due to injuries and Gold CoastGold Coast Suns
The Gold Coast Suns were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The club split their home games between Miami and Pompano Beach, FL and hired future Hall of Famer Earl Weaver as manager. In the league's inaugural season, the...
or homesickness speculations.
Gold Coast career
On 1 September 2010, Krakouer signed a three-year deal with the Gold Coast SunsGold Coast Suns
The Gold Coast Suns were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The club split their home games between Miami and Pompano Beach, FL and hired future Hall of Famer Earl Weaver as manager. In the league's inaugural season, the...
. He was the second uncontracted player to do so following Nathan Bock
Nathan Bock
Nathan Bock is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League . He played for the Adelaide Football Club between 2002 and 2010, and announced in August 2010 that he would join the new Gold Coast Football Club in 2011.-Adelaide career:He was elevated off the Adelaide Football...
who left Adelaide
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
. He left despite the disappointment of Port Adelaide who stated that given the commitment our football club has made to Nathan's development and welfare over the last four years, we are very disappointed at the way the matter has been handled in recent weeks. It was alluded to that Krakouer had already made the decision to leave Port Adelaide during the season, further highlighting criticism of the AFL's clause for the expansion teams ability recruit one uncontracter player from each of the 16 existing clubs.