Why Tigers wanted A. Krakouer . . .
Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
10:12:11 AM Wed 14 May, 2003
Rewind to May 12 of the 2001 AFL season . . .
A shy 18-year-old Aboriginal lad, with a classy football pedigree, makes his senior AFL debut for Richmond against Essendon in front of a huge MCG crowd.
The Tigers get thumped in this Round 7 encounter by the reigning premiers, but young Andrew Krakouer (son of former North Melbourne star Jim Krakouer and nephew of the equally talented Phil) shows glimpses of his undoubted ability with two clever goals (the team's only multiple goalscorer on the day).
Fast forward almost two years to the day . . . May 10, 2003 -- same round, same venue, same opposition.
The 20-year-old Krakouer, playing his 19th game of AFL football, produces his best performance in the big time, gathering 10 kicks, taking two marks, shooting out four handballs, laying six tackles and finishing his busy work up forward with five team-lifting goals, as Richmond defies the odds to knock over long-time nemesis Essendon.
It's a magical display which sends the Tiger Army into raptures. Those of the Yellow and Black faith had been eagerly awaiting the day young Krakouer translated his breathtaking cameo efforts into something slightly more substantial.
From the Club's perspective, however, there has never been any thought of rushing Krakouer's progress. He has always been viewed by the Tigers as a long-term project -- albeit a most exciting one.
"I suppose when he first came on board there was some mystique about him and I think people probably expected a lot of him early when he probably wasn't ready," said Richmond's Recruiting Manager Greg Beck.
"We'd been after a crumbing forward for a few years, but when we drafted Andy we thought he was going to be a couple of years away. We always knew it was going to take some time for him to grow into the role, grow his body, get a bit of match fitness and, generally, just get comfortable at the level."
Beck was hardly surprised by Krakouer's dazzling display last Saturday.
"What you saw at the weekend was exactly what he did for South Fremantle Colts -- the crumbing, the smartness, the turning opposition players inside out. You can't teach that -- it's instinctive," Beck said.
"When we drafted Andy we knew he had those special skills that you can't teach, but you're never too sure whether they're going to translate to league football.
"It's been a matter of him improving enough in the confidence side of things and feeling that he belongs at that level. Then, it's come down to having the confidence to do the things that come naturally, rather than thinking too much about it.
"Like we saw last Saturday, he just played natural footy."
Beck believes Krakouer's AFL development was enhanced by a spell with Richmond's VFL alignment, the Coburg Tigers, last year.
"When he went back to Coburg, he was moved into the midfield rather than just spending his time parked in a forward pocket and kicking a couple of goals each week. He managed to get the ball 15-20 times in the midfield and has confidence grew," Beck said.
"Andy's now got the confidence to know he can find the ball and that he doesn’t have to rely solely on kicking goals to provide value to the team."
Although Krakouer has uncanny goal sense, and is already being compared in some quarters with other quality AFL crumbing forwards such as Phil Matera, Stephen Milne and Ronnie Burns, the Tigers feel he will eventually carve his niche in the midfield.
"He just needs another year or two before he moves into the midfield. Hopefully, he'll have more feathers in his cap than just a forward pocket goalkicker," Beck said.
"But I think he'll always be the sort of player who'll give the team a lift with the way he kicks his goals. His ability to weave and get around players and kick goals is certainly something special."
Krakouer, for his part, was typically modest and low-key about the events of last Saturday at the 'G' . . .
"It felt great to get a win over the Bombers. I played my role in what was a real team effort and I was pleased with that," he said.
Interestingly, Krakouer became just the second Richmond player outside of gun tall forwards Matthew Richardson and Brad Ottens, to kick five goals or more in a match since Danny Frawley took over as the Tigers' coach in 2000. The only other Tiger to bag a handful of six-pointers has been Matthew Rogers.
Krakouer's response to that piece of statistical information, once again, was naturally restrained . . .
"Oh, that's not too bad," he said.
"I've been practising my goalkicking a bit . . . I was a bit disappointed last week (against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium). I sort of didn't make the most of my opportunities."
Goals alone, however, are not how 'Krak' wants to be measured in terms of his value to the Tiger team.
"I go out and try to put a bit of pressure on opposition backs (read six tackles last Saturday) . . . see how many TP's (Team Pursuits) I can get and things like that," he said.
"If I'm doing that fairly well, all the rest sort of falls into place."
And Krak's aims for the rest of the 2003 season . . ?
"I just want to be a contributor each week and play good, consistent senior football," he said.
Tony Greenberg
richmondfc.com.au
10:12:11 AM Wed 14 May, 2003
Rewind to May 12 of the 2001 AFL season . . .
A shy 18-year-old Aboriginal lad, with a classy football pedigree, makes his senior AFL debut for Richmond against Essendon in front of a huge MCG crowd.
The Tigers get thumped in this Round 7 encounter by the reigning premiers, but young Andrew Krakouer (son of former North Melbourne star Jim Krakouer and nephew of the equally talented Phil) shows glimpses of his undoubted ability with two clever goals (the team's only multiple goalscorer on the day).
Fast forward almost two years to the day . . . May 10, 2003 -- same round, same venue, same opposition.
The 20-year-old Krakouer, playing his 19th game of AFL football, produces his best performance in the big time, gathering 10 kicks, taking two marks, shooting out four handballs, laying six tackles and finishing his busy work up forward with five team-lifting goals, as Richmond defies the odds to knock over long-time nemesis Essendon.
It's a magical display which sends the Tiger Army into raptures. Those of the Yellow and Black faith had been eagerly awaiting the day young Krakouer translated his breathtaking cameo efforts into something slightly more substantial.
From the Club's perspective, however, there has never been any thought of rushing Krakouer's progress. He has always been viewed by the Tigers as a long-term project -- albeit a most exciting one.
"I suppose when he first came on board there was some mystique about him and I think people probably expected a lot of him early when he probably wasn't ready," said Richmond's Recruiting Manager Greg Beck.
"We'd been after a crumbing forward for a few years, but when we drafted Andy we thought he was going to be a couple of years away. We always knew it was going to take some time for him to grow into the role, grow his body, get a bit of match fitness and, generally, just get comfortable at the level."
Beck was hardly surprised by Krakouer's dazzling display last Saturday.
"What you saw at the weekend was exactly what he did for South Fremantle Colts -- the crumbing, the smartness, the turning opposition players inside out. You can't teach that -- it's instinctive," Beck said.
"When we drafted Andy we knew he had those special skills that you can't teach, but you're never too sure whether they're going to translate to league football.
"It's been a matter of him improving enough in the confidence side of things and feeling that he belongs at that level. Then, it's come down to having the confidence to do the things that come naturally, rather than thinking too much about it.
"Like we saw last Saturday, he just played natural footy."
Beck believes Krakouer's AFL development was enhanced by a spell with Richmond's VFL alignment, the Coburg Tigers, last year.
"When he went back to Coburg, he was moved into the midfield rather than just spending his time parked in a forward pocket and kicking a couple of goals each week. He managed to get the ball 15-20 times in the midfield and has confidence grew," Beck said.
"Andy's now got the confidence to know he can find the ball and that he doesn’t have to rely solely on kicking goals to provide value to the team."
Although Krakouer has uncanny goal sense, and is already being compared in some quarters with other quality AFL crumbing forwards such as Phil Matera, Stephen Milne and Ronnie Burns, the Tigers feel he will eventually carve his niche in the midfield.
"He just needs another year or two before he moves into the midfield. Hopefully, he'll have more feathers in his cap than just a forward pocket goalkicker," Beck said.
"But I think he'll always be the sort of player who'll give the team a lift with the way he kicks his goals. His ability to weave and get around players and kick goals is certainly something special."
Krakouer, for his part, was typically modest and low-key about the events of last Saturday at the 'G' . . .
"It felt great to get a win over the Bombers. I played my role in what was a real team effort and I was pleased with that," he said.
Interestingly, Krakouer became just the second Richmond player outside of gun tall forwards Matthew Richardson and Brad Ottens, to kick five goals or more in a match since Danny Frawley took over as the Tigers' coach in 2000. The only other Tiger to bag a handful of six-pointers has been Matthew Rogers.
Krakouer's response to that piece of statistical information, once again, was naturally restrained . . .
"Oh, that's not too bad," he said.
"I've been practising my goalkicking a bit . . . I was a bit disappointed last week (against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium). I sort of didn't make the most of my opportunities."
Goals alone, however, are not how 'Krak' wants to be measured in terms of his value to the Tiger team.
"I go out and try to put a bit of pressure on opposition backs (read six tackles last Saturday) . . . see how many TP's (Team Pursuits) I can get and things like that," he said.
"If I'm doing that fairly well, all the rest sort of falls into place."
And Krak's aims for the rest of the 2003 season . . ?
"I just want to be a contributor each week and play good, consistent senior football," he said.
