Latest news with #SimpsonMedal
West Australian
18-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
East Fremantle star Milan Murdock puts hand up for AFL mid-season draft with another Simpson Medal
East Fremantle star Milan Murdock puts hand up for AFL mid-season draft with another Simpson Medal
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy legend Andrew Krakouer is mourned by teammates and loved ones after his tragic death aged just 42
Hundreds have gathered to mourn and farewell AFL legend Andrew Krakouer who died of a suspected heart attack in Perth last month at the age of 42. Born in Melbourne, he racked up 102 games for Richmond from 2001 to 2007 before a jail term interrupted his AFL career and ended up changing his life for the better. Krakouer was sentenced to at least 16 months in jail for a serious assault in 2006, with his younger brother also imprisoned over his role in the attack. However, he fought his way back into the AFL after his release on parole in 2009, going on to rack up 35 games with Collingwood from 2011 to 2013. Once his first-grade career was over, he moved into construction and became a TV host and public speaker who specialised in sharing the lessons he'd learned during his rollercoaster career. A funeral service, held at the spiritual home of Krahouer's WAFL premiership with Swan Districts, brought together former teammates, family and friends. Among the many mourners present was former Pies teammate Héritier Lumumba who remembered Krakouer as an 'incredible human being'. 'He moved like he just had rhythm all the time, he always was always on beat, he was graceful and had the ability to move clean under pressure, but it also showed up in how he navigated life as well,' Lumumba said. 'He was loyal to his people and just wanted to do the best and get the most out of himself in life, whether it was in the media, whether in the community, he was a man that met every challenge head on. 'We all know the legendary bloodline that Krakouer came from and you know the brilliance that the family has given to the football world, inspiring so many is something that Andrew carried forward from his uncle and his dad. 'He did things on the field that had never been seen before, and inspired a whole new, different way of playing the game of football. 'He didn't stand in that shadow, he came in, and he added to that legacy, he did things that were just remarkable. 'I know how many people he inspired doing it, but it wasn't just what he did on the field, moreso it was what he did off the field. 'His spirit will live on his work, his impact will continue to inspire people for generations to come.' Krakouer's Swan Districts coach Brian Dawson explained that there were 'simply not enough superlatives to describe his 2010 season or his grand final display'. 'He won just about all there was to win in 2010. He played in the State team, he won the Sandover Medal with 44 votes, eight clear of the runner-up, he won the Swan Medal for the cub fairest and best,' Dawson explained to mourners. 'He won the club award for best player in the finals, he won the Simpson Medal in the grand final with the maximum 15 votes, and a premiership medal to top it off, where he absolutely dominated the game, with 41 possessions, four goals and most importantly the winning goal with 28 seconds left to play. 'His grand final display ranks as probably the finest and most impactful individual game ever played in the WAFL.' In 2022, Krakouer signed on to host the SBS TV show Yokayi Footy, and last year he released a children's book aimed at helping kids whose parents have been jailed. 'My Dad's Gone Away' was inspired by Krakouer's experiences as a prisoner - and by the jailing of his father Jim when he was just 13 years old. His Yokayi co-host, Megan Waters, said Krakouer's story was simply 'remarkable.' 'The reality of moving forward in a world that Andy no longer physically exists in is one of the most gut-wrenching things I have ever faced,' she said. 'The way he moved through the world made people feel seen as it was important for him to do what he could uplift our community and lead by example. 'I am so grateful to have learned from him, who I become moving forward and the values that I carry will be a testament to the mark that he's left.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
McGuire goes public with new details after AFL rocked by news about Andrew Krakouer
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has revealed Andrew Krakouer was gardening at his mother's house in Perth when he suffered a heart attack and died. The AFL community is mourning Krakouer after the former Richmond and Collingwood player died at the age of 42. Tributes are flowing in for the much-loved former player, with Nathan Buckley and Matthew Richardson among the many to speak out. On Monday night, former Magpies president McGuire opened up on how the club kept tabs on Krakouer while he was in jail, while also providing new details into his tragic death. "He had just gone back to Perth," McGuire said on The Project on Channel 10. "It's my understanding that he was gardening in his mother's front garden when he had a heart attack and couldn't be revived. Our hearts are breaking." Krakouer played 102 games for the Tigers from 2001 to 2007, before 35 games for the Magpies from 2011 to 2013. In between he spent 16 months behind bars after being jailed in 2008 for a serious assault. McGuire was part of the Collingwood hierarchy who made the call to bring Krakouer to the club, and revealed how they scouted him even while he was in prison. "He told me that one night lying in his cell he basically wondered 'what the hell has happened to my life'," McGuire recounted. "We kept tabs on Andrew and we found out they had a pretty strong football competition in the jail in Perth. Andrew was getting himself really fit and wanted to have one last go at his career. Ultimately we were able to recruit him to Collingwood and within 12 months he'd taken the mark of the year, kicked the second-best goal of the year, and kicked three goals in a grand final." Krakouer played for the Wooroloo Prison team while in jail, and in 2010 he starred for Swan Districts in the WAFL. He won the Sandover Medal as the best and fairest player of the competition, and also claimed the Simpson Medal for best on ground in the grand final. His superb season in Perth saw the Magpies recruit him, and in 2011 he repaid their faith. As McGuire mentioned, he took the mark of the year that season and kicked three goals in Collingwood's grand final loss. Tigers great Richardson remembered Krakouer on Monday as "a beautiful man who was loved by all his teammates". He said: "He always greeted you with a hug and a warm smile. He had a great sense of humour and was one of those people you felt really good to be around. Just a ripper person. "As a player, he was super talented. He was the best crumbing forward I played with ... the perfect crumber, and he was a good mark for his size as well. When he was on song, he was unbeatable." RELATED: AFL world rallies around Danielle Ladley after awful revelation Jack Riewoldt torched by fellow AFL pundit over live TV comments Former Magpies player and coach Buckley described him as "a genius" who could do "special things" on the field. "He made the most of his opportunities," Buckley said on SEN radio. "He was troubled at times, but what a brilliant footballer. Really calm, quiet teammate who was respectful and went about his business. He loved the game, found a way to impact and could do things other players couldn't do. He was exceptional." More recently Krakouer worked as a host of the Yokayi Footy program on NITV. He co-authored a children's book - My Dad's Gone Away - which addressed the experiences of children with incarcerated parents. Rest in peace Andrew Krakouer. A beautiful man who was loved by all his teammates. Always greeted you with a hug and a smile. Love to Jimmy and Andrew's daughters and all his family. Very sad day ❤️ — Matthew Richardson (@mattricho0) March 30, 2025 So saddened by the tragic and unexpected passing of Andrew Krakouer. Krak was a special talent - but more than that, he was a deeply loved husband, father, son, teammate and friend. My condolences are with the Krakouer family and all who loved him. Rest easy Krak. — Brendon Gale (@brendongale25) March 30, 2025 Andrew Krakouer played the greatest game of football I've ever watched live. 2010 WAFL Grand Final, he had 40 disposals and kicked 4 goals, including the winning score in a 1 point win for Swan Districts over Claremont. Been burnt in my memory for 14 years. Rest in peace 💔 — Jasper Chellappah (@Jasperc53) March 31, 2025 with AAP
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Special talent': former AFL player Krakouer dead at 42
Former Collingwood and Richmond AFL player Andrew Krakouer has died in Perth from a suspected heart attack, aged 42. Krakouer played 102 games for the Tigers (2001-2007) and 35 for the Magpies (2011-2013), kicking three goals in the Pies' 2011 grand-final loss to Geelong. His AFL comeback came after he was jailed in 2008 for 16 months over a serious assault. Ex-Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley described 2011 mark-of-the-year winner Krakouer as "a genius" on the field. "He made the most of his opportunities," Buckley said on SEN. "He was troubled at times, but what a brilliant footballer. Really calm, quiet teammate who was respectful and went about his business. "I really enjoyed the years with him, and that's really sad for his family, first and foremost. "He was just a genius. He was just a player who could do the special things … the hanger he took in 2011 on Marvel (Stadium) was elite. "He loved the game, found a way to impact and could do things other players couldn't do. He was exceptional." Krakouer fell out with Collingwood following the 2021 Do Better report into allegations of racism, but made peace with the club the following year. Rest in peace Andrew Krakouer. A beautiful man who was loved by all his teammates. Always greeted you with a hug and a smile. Love to Jimmy and Andrew's daughters and all his family. Very sad day ❤️ — Matthew Richardson (@mattricho0) March 30, 2025 Krakouer was remembered by former Richmond teammate Matthew Richardson as "a beautiful man who was loved by all his teammates". Ex-Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale said Krakouer was "deeply loved" and a "special talent". So saddened by the tragic and unexpected passing of Andrew Krakouer. Krak was a special talent - but more than that, he was a deeply loved husband, father, son, teammate and friend. My condolences are with the Krakouer family and all who loved him. Rest easy Krak. — Brendon Gale (@brendongale25) March 30, 2025 Krakouer was a star at state-league level, delivering a brilliant 2010 WAFL season that earned him a second chance in the AFL. He won the Sandover Medal as the WAFL's best player that season and was awarded the Simpson Medal as best afield in Swan Districts' grand-final win over Claremont. He tallied 42 disposals and four goals in the decider, kicking the match-winner in the dying seconds of a one-point victory that clinched Swans' first premiership in 20 years. Krakouer's father Jim and uncle Phil were stars with Claremont in the WAFL and North Melbourne in the VFL during the 1980s.
