Andrew Krakouer: Deck of Dream Team 2011

Name: Andrew Krakouer
Club: Collingwood
Position: Midfield/Forward
Bye Rounds: 7 & 13
2010 Average: DNP
2010 Games Played: DNP
Predicted Average: 62

The Story….  Krakouer has one hell of a story and that goes well with a funny name (when you think about it). Lets do this nice and slow… He was drafted in 2000 by Richmond with their 41st pick. Then over the course of 7 years, Kraka played 102 games with the Tigers where he averaged pretty poor DT numbers with his best year being in 2006 where he averaged just 65 from 17 games. His last year of footy at AFL level was in 2007, where he only played 9 games for an average of just 48. On December 22nd in 2006, Kraka and his brother Tyrone got into some trouble in Fremantle and 3 days later they were charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm. Kraka was then delisted by the Tigers in October the following year and returned to Western Australia to play in the WAFL with the Swan Districts. In 2008 he was found guilty of assault with intent to cause bodily harm, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years jail.

He was sentenced to four years jail with a minimum non-parole period of 14 months. But while Kraka was behind bars he kept playing footy. He  played for the Wooroloo Prison team and was released in 2009 (on parole) and signed back on to play the 2010 football season for Swan Districts back in the WAFL. During last year he was a gun! Whooped them in the WAFL (legally this time) and went on to win the Sandover Medal (MVP in the competition). He also won the Simpson Medal for his best on ground effort in the Grand Final after he kicked 4 goals and had 42 touches. After analysis of the game it showed that Kraka would have polled 290 Champion Data ranking points (super coach points) in the game, more than any player has ever polled in an AFL game since the statistical technique was first implemented in 2004. To cut a long story short, he then was picked up by the Gold Coast who then swapped picks and stuff with Collingwood who wanted this guy with them. So there we are…

Why should I pick him? Because he won the Sandover Medal last year… and like players before him such as Priddis and Ballantyne, it shows that the AFL is the next step. His WAFL form meant he was widely regarded the best-credentialed player outside the draft. He scored 290 SC points in the GF last year and holds the record for the most points ever! Imagine if he was your captain!! The dude can play and Collingwood have bent over backwards to try and get him.

Why shouldn’t I pick him? Read the above story. He is loose as…  Krakouer was unable to travel when the Pies travelled to the USA (Arizona) and there were some concerns he might fall behind the pack in his training. Due to his previous conviction, Kraka was left behind to do his own stuff in Australia. But in his defence they say he has ticked every box the fitness staff have set, flourishing in his new surrounds.

Deck of DT Rating. JACK – As we already know, he’s priced at $139,500.  Look at him as an expensive rookie and this guy may just be one of the picks of 2011.