Jim Krakouer Released.

[mightytiges]

Danny's boy real Krakouer
28 August 2004   
Herald Sun
Sam Edmund

WHEN Andrew Krakouer showed up on Richmond's doorstep as a skinny 17-year-old in late 2000,, coach Danny Frawley knew he had something special.

Almost from the moment the skilled Aborigine was selected by the Tigers with pick 41 in the 2000 national draft, Krakouer and Frawley formed a special bond. It was a bond that guided the young West Australian through a difficult time.

He had been estranged from his father, mercurial North Melbourne player Jimmy, who was serving time in a Perth jail, and had just moved across the country to pursue his football dream. But Frawley took the shy youngster under his wing.

He and wife Anita often invited Krakouer and several other young Tigers to their home for dinner to help ease the transition to AFL football.

"We've got a strong bond," Frawley said. "His dad's his dad, but I guess I've been a bit of a mentor for him and supported him on and off the field."


Krakouer and his coach were brothers in arms again yesterday at Brighton beach ahead of Richmond's last match of the season, and Frawley's last as coach, against Sydney at the MCG today.

Krakouer has vowed to play a blinder against the Swans for his old man, whom he will visit in Perth on Monday. Jimmy Krakouer was released from Karnet Prison Farm, south of Perth, on Tuesday. He must stay in WA, on work release, until February.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,10589343%255E19771,00.html

[JohnF]

ROFLMFAOOOOOO@Frawley taking Krakouer under his wing and leaving him in the worst physical shape of any footballer in the competition bar Billy Nicholls. Well done spud.

[mightytiges]

Krakouer back home to see dad
By Peter Ker
Perth
realfooty.theage.com.au
August 31, 2004

It has become the most celebrated reunion of the year, but Andrew Krakouer was low key yesterday when asked about the prospect of seeing his father Jimmy again.

"I'm not sure (when I'm going to see him)," he said. "I'm just going to give him a call now and see what he is up to."

Krakouer skipped the post-season celebrations with Richmond teammates in favour of returning to Perth yesterday, where his father, former North Melbourne, St Kilda and Claremont champion Jimmy Krakouer, is now a free man after serving nine years of a 16-year sentence for drug-trafficking.

Andrew Krakouer was flanked by his two young daughters, Allia and Tekia, when he arrived in Perth shortly after 4.30pm local time. "I don't want to say too much," he said.

Neither Jimmy or other members of the family were at Perth airport for Andrew's arrival, but were understood to be waiting at the Hyatt hotel in Perth city, where Andrew and his daughters were driven after leaving the airport. It is the same hotel at which Jimmy Krakouer was interviewed by Eddie McGuire after being released from Karnet prison farm last week.

The Richmond star and his daughters were met at the airport by a man who described himself as "just a friend".

Yesterday's reunion comes after two failed attempts by the Krakouer family and the Richmond Football Club earlier this year for Jimmy Krakouer to attend Tigers matches in which Andrew was participating.

Plans to fly Jimmy Krakouer to Melbourne midseason were thwarted by West Australian parole regulations.

A second attempt for him to attend Richmond's May 29 match against West Coast in Perth was also aborted because of security fears.

Former Fremantle coach Gerard Neesham, who was a mentor for Andrew Krakouer in his teens at Perth's Clontarf Football Academy for indigenous boys, said yesterday's events had been eagerly awaited by the Krakouer family.

"I know it means a lot to Jimmy and it means a lot to Andrew . . . it is extremely important for the entire family to be brought back together," he said.

http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/08/30/1093852179802.html

[mightytiges]

Great news for Andy.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/03/16/1110913665433.html

Krakouer gets the all-clear for Victorian move
By Jake Niall
The Age
March 17, 2005

Former Kangaroo champion Jim Krakouer will fly back to Victoria in the next 48 hours to begin a new life and see his son Andrew play AFL football for the first time.

The West Australian authorities yesterday gave Krakouer permission to complete his two-year parole period in Victoria, freeing him to attend "The North Story" function tomorrow night.

Krakouer will fly to Melbourne and will work alongside Michael Long and Derek Kickett in an AFL-sponsored position working with indigenous footballers.

Stable employment and regular reporting to the Victorian correctional officials are the major conditions of Krakouer's parole. He was given parole late last year after serving eight-and-a-half years for drug trafficking.

Krakouer has indicated that the prospect of spending time with son Andrew and watching him play for Richmond are significant factors in his decision to move to Melbourne.

Krakouer was unable to get day release to see Andrew play when the Tigers played West Coast in Perth last year.