Nathan Krakouer

Australian rules footballer

Australian rules footballer

Nathan Krakouer

Krakouer playing for Port Adelaide in 2007

Personal information
Full name|  Nathan Rhys Krakouer
Nickname(s)|  Krak
Date of birth|  (1988-05-05) 5 May 1988 (age 36)
Original team(s)|  Claremont (WAFL)
Draft|  No. 39, 2006 national draft
Height|  188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight|  78 kg (172 lb)
Position(s)|  Midfielder/defender
Playing career1
Years|  Club|  Games (Goals)
2007–2010|  Port Adelaide|  40 0(7)
2011|  Gold Coast|  13 0(8)
2015–2017|  Port Adelaide|  29 0(9)
Total|  |  82 (24)

1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2017.

Career highlights

* Inaugural Gold Coast team

Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Nathan Krakouer (born 5 May 1988) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club and Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the nephew of former North Melbourne football players Jimmy Krakouer and Phil Krakouer and cousin of former Richmond and Collingwood player Andrew Krakouer.

## Early life

[edit]

Krakouer began his junior football in Western Australia before playing senior football with the Claremont Football Club 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.[1]

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.

## AFL career

[edit]

### Port Adelaide (2007-2010)

[edit]

The slightly-built rookie teenager was recruited by AFL club Port Adelaide in the 2006 AFL Draft. He was the player the Power was most surprised to be able to pick when it grabbed him at number 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 years.[2]

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 two 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.[1]

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 three Port goals in 15 minutes; three 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.

At the end of round 7, Krakouer was ranked sixth among the AFL Rising Stars in total kicks and total marks, and seventh in total goals.[3]

In 2008, Krakouer managed just three games for the Power due to recurring soft tissue injuries, and was granted permission by the club to return home to Western Australia 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."[4]

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 Burgoyne who returned to his original position as a midfielder. Krakouer played well 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.

Season 2010 was forgetful for Krakouer as he was limited to just seven games due to injuries and lack of form.

### Gold Coast (2011)

[edit]

On 1 September 2010, Krakouer signed a three-year deal with the Gold Coast Suns. 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 uncontracted player from each of the 16 existing clubs.[5]

In December 2011, Krakouer was released by the Suns due to "personal reasons" despite being contracted to the end of the 2012 season.[6]

### Return to Port Adelaide (2015-2017)

[edit]

On 31 March, Krakouer was signed to play for the Port Adelaide Magpies in hope to re-ignite his AFL career.[7] He polled best and fairest votes in 12 of his 16 games,[8] and was subsequently drafted as a rookie by Port Adelaide's AFL side.

Starting on the rookie list in 2015, he impressed in the pre-season trial matches and was quickly promoted from the rookie list to play his first AFL game for the Power since 2010 in round 3 as his accurate kicking and smooth movement off the half back line proved to be valuable. He played 7 games before being returned to the rookie list. He was immediately reinstated to the senior list as a mid season promotion and went on to play another 7 games for a return of 14 on the season.

At the conclusion of the 2017 season, Krakouer announced his retirement from AFL football.[9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ AFL Record. Round 9, 2008. p. 12
2. ^ "Another Krakouer stands out at draft camp". ABC News. 6 October 2006.
3. ^ "Nathan Krakouer of the Port Adelaide Power Player Profile and AFL Stats".
4. ^ Junior Krakouer's reason to stay
5. ^ "Gold Coast ready to pounce | Herald Sun". Archived from the original on 14 June 2011.
6. ^ "Nathan Krakouer released by Suns". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
7. ^ "Final four Maggies confirmed". 31 March 2014.
8. ^ Krakouer in mix for Port return
9. ^ Agius, Matthew (4 October 2017). "Krakouer announces retirement from AFL". PortAdelaideFC.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 4 October 2017.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nathan Krakouer.

* Nathan Krakouer's playing statistics from AFL Tables
* Nathan Krakouer at AustralianFootball.com

* v
* t
* e

Inaugural Gold Coast Suns AFL team

Full-back|

* Campbell Brown
* Nathan Bock
* Seb Tape

Half-back|

* Jarrod Harbrow
* Karmichael Hunt
* Nathan Krakouer

Centre|

* Trent McKenzie
* Daniel Harris
* Michael Rischitelli

Half-forward|

* Danny Stanley
* Charlie Dixon
* Dion Prestia

Full-forward|

* Jared Brennan
* Zac Smith
* Brandon Matera

Ruck|

* Josh Fraser
* David Swallow
* Gary Ablett Jr. (c)

Interchange|

* Marc Lock
* Alik Magin
* Harley Bennell
* Sub: Josh Toy

Coach|

* Guy McKenna

Gold Coast defeated by Carlton 7.10 (52) to 26.15 (171), round 2, 2011, at the Gabba

* v
* t
* e

2006 AFL national draft

First round|

* 1\. Bryce Gibbs
* 2\. Scott Gumbleton
* 3\. Lachlan Hansen
* 4\. Matthew Leuenberger
* 5\. Travis Boak
* 6\. Mitch Thorp
* 7\. Joel Selwood
* 8\. Ben Reid
* 9\. David Armitage
* 10\. Nathan Brown
* 11\. Andrejs Everitt
* 12\. James Frawley
* 13\. Jack Riewoldt
* 14\. James Sellar
* 15\. Daniel O'Keefe
* 16\. Mitch Brown
* 17\. Shaun Hampson (PP)
* 18\. Leroy Jetta (PP)

Second round|

* 19\. Shaun Grigg
* 20\. Tom Hislop
* 21\. Gavin Urquhart
* 22\. Albert Proud
* 23\. Paul Stewart
* 24\. Brent Renouf
* 25\. Nathan Djerrkura
* 26\. Shane Edwards
* 27\. Brad Howard
* 28\. Chris Dawes
* 29\. Eric Mackenzie
* 30\. Ricky Petterd
* 31\. Clayton Collard
* 32\. Kurt Tippett
* 33\. Jarryd Morton
* 34\. Chris Schmidt

Third round|

* 35\. Mark Austin
* 36\. Alwyn Davey
* 37\. Todd Goldstein
* 38\. James Hawksley
* 39\. Nathan Krakouer
* 40\. Josh Kennedy (F/S)
* 41\. Tom Hawkins (F/S)
* 42\. Bachar Houli
* 43\. Tim Houlihan
* 44\. Brad Dick
* 45\. Brennan Stack
* 46\. Colin Garland
* 47\. Kyle Reimers
* 48\. David Mackay
* 49\. Daniel Currie
* 50\. Will Schofield

Fourth round|

* 51\. Clint Benjamin
* 52\. Brock O'Brien
* 53\. Lindsay Thomas
* 54\. Matt Tyler
* 55\. Robbie Gray
* 56\. Garry Moss
* 57\. Simon Hogan
* 58\. Daniel Connors
* 59\. Jarryd Allen
* 60\. Carl Peterson
* 61\. Josh Hill
* 62\. Isaac Weetra
* 63\. Tyson Goldsack
* 64\. Nick Gill
* 65\. Peter Faulks
* 66\. Malcolm Lynch

Fifth round|

* 67\. Joe Anderson
* 69\. Ben Warren
* 70\. Sam Sheldon
* 71\. Justin Westhoff
* 73\. Andrew Collins
* 74\. Matthew Ferguson
* 76\. Paul O'Shea
* 77\. Calib Mourish
* 78\. Bryce Campbell
* 79\. Jesse White
* 80\. James Thomson

Sixth round|

* 82\. Aaron Edwards
* 83\. Ryan Williams

Seventh round|

* 86\. David Rodan

* v
* t
* e

2015 AFL rookie draft

First round|

* 1\. Jack Sinclair
* 2\. Aaron vandenBerg
* 4\. Billy Evans
* 5\. Roarke Smith
* 6\. Billy Gowers
* 7\. Josh Glenn
* 8\. Michael Manteit
* 9\. Reilly O'Brien
* 10\. Kane Lucas
* 11\. Jayden Short
* 12\. Shaun McKernan
* 13\. Ethan Hughes
* 14\. Tom Read
* 15\. Braydon Preuss
* 16\. Nathan Krakouer
* 17\. Sean McLaren
* 18\. Jared Hardisty

Second round|

* 19\. Ahmed Saad
* 20\. Mitch White
* 22\. Hugh Beasley
* 23\. Jordan Kelly
* 24\. Brad Walsh
* 25\. Adam Saad
* 26\. Brenden Abbott
* 27\. Keenan Ramsey
* 28\. Corey Adamson
* 29\. Jason Castagna
* 30\. Kurt Aylett
* 31\. Tanner Smith
* 32\. Cameron Delaney
* 33\. Will Fordham
* 34\. Tom Logan
* 35\. Nic Newman
* 36\. Jermaine Miller-Lewis

Third round|

* 37\. Brenton Payne
* 40\. Daniel Pearce
* 41\. Tom Fields
* 42\. Keegan Brooksby
* 43\. Tony Armstrong
* 44\. Anthony Wilson
* 45\. Patrick Brophy
* 46\. Kane Lambert
* 47\. Jake Long
* 48\. Sean Hurley
* 49\. Padraig Lucey
* 50\. Max Warren
* 51\. Johann Wagner
* 52\. Lewis Melican
* 53\. Lachlan Langford

Fourth round|

* 54\. Adam Schneider
* 56\. Cian Hanley
* 57\. Brett Goodes
* 58\. Fraser Russell
* 59\. Tyrone Downie
* 60\. Mason Cox
* 61\. Matthew Arnot
* 62\. Conor McKenna
* 63\. Robin Nahas
* 65\. Sam Grimley

Fifth round|

* 67\. Greg Broughton
* 68\. Ivan Soldo

Sixth round|

* 71\. Andrew Raines

Ninth round|

* 75\. Matthew Hammelmann
* 76\. Jordan Foote

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