Swan Districts Football Club premiership coach Brian Dawson still remembers the day in June 2008 when he had to tell his players that one of their stars, Andrew Krakouer, would not be playing that week – or for a good long while – because he had been taken into custody.
Krakouer was found guilty of assault with intent to cause bodily harm after an incident in Fremantle 18 months earlier. Newspaper reports at the time said he would never play football again. Little did they know.
Krakouer, who died in Perth of a suspected heart attack on 30 March 2025, aged just 42, came from a famous footballing family that lit up the then VFL. Like his father, Jimmy, and uncle Phil, he will always be remembered for his exquisite football skills but also for the way he overcame adversity.
Dawson and other Swan Districts officials visited Krakouer in prison several times during his 16-month incarceration.
“It certainly wasn’t easy for Andrew in jail, especially at first, but he never complained, grizzled or grumbled,” Dawson said. “He always said I’m the culprit, I’ve caused this and I have to suck it up and do my time.”
Dawson said that, even then, Krakouer looked out for others who were “doing it tough” and empathised with people in worse situations than him.
Krakouer was keen to discuss football during these visits, especially how Swan Districts were tracking. But he said Krakouer’s main motivation was to put his life back together by providing well for his family – his partner, Barbara, and their daughters – and make amends for his time in prison.
Krakouer did whatever he could to keep fit, including boxing and weight training, and even played in a premiership for his prison football team, the Wooroloo Bombers.
After his release in August 2009, Krakouer was welcomed back at Swan Districts Football Club. His 2010 season is the stuff of legends, winning him the Sandover Medal for the best and fairest player in the West Australian Football League. Swans were up against arch-rival Claremont in the grand final and Krakouer played what is widely regarded as one of the best individual games ever. He racked up 40 possessions and booted four goals, including three in the last quarter and the winner in the last minute. Unsurprisingly, he won the Simpson Medal for best afield in this game.
Football’s statistical experts, Champion Data, then in its infancy, rates players on their performances. An outstanding game scores about 120 points. Champion Data assessed that Krakouer’s grand final would have rated 290 points.
Krakouer had been drafted by Richmond in 2000 and played 102 games before being delisted in 2007. But, after his heroics in the 2010 WAFL grand final, the reigning AFL premier Collingwood was delighted to pick him up for the 2011 season. In his first year with the Magpies, he took mark of the year, and he kicked three goals in the 2011 grand final.
Dawson described Krakouer as a footballer who could do it all: “I remember opposition players thinking they were about to tackle him and they’d grasp thin air because he was gone.”
Swan Districts Football Club premiership coach Brian Dawson still remembers the day in June 2008 when he had to tell his players that one of their stars, Andrew Krakouer, would not be playing that week – or for a good long while – because he had been taken into custody.
Krakouer was found guilty of assault with intent to cause bodily harm after an incident in Fremantle 18 months earlier. Newspaper reports at the time said he would never play football again. Little did they know.
Krakouer, who died in Perth of a suspected heart attack on 30 March 2025, aged just 42, came from a famous footballing family that lit up the then VFL. Like his father, Jimmy, and uncle Phil, he will always be remembered for his exquisite football skills but also for the way he overcame adversity.
Dawson and other Swan Districts officials visited Krakouer in prison several times during his 16-month incarceration.
“It certainly wasn’t easy for Andrew in jail, especially at first, but he never complained, grizzled or grumbled,” Dawson said. “He always said I’m the culprit, I’ve caused this and I have to suck it up and do my time.”
Dawson said that, even then, Krakouer looked out for others who were “doing it tough” and empathised with people in worse situations than him.
Krakouer was keen to discuss football during these visits, especially how Swan Districts were tracking. But he said Krakouer’s main motivation was to put his life back together by providing well for his family – his partner, Barbara, and their daughters – and make amends for his time in prison.
Krakouer did whatever he could to keep fit, including boxing and weight training, and even played in a premiership for his prison football team, the Wooroloo Bombers.
After his release in August 2009, Krakouer was welcomed back at Swan Districts Football Club. His 2010 season is the stuff of legends, winning him the Sandover Medal for the best and fairest player in the West Australian Football League. Swans were up against arch-rival Claremont in the grand final and Krakouer played what is widely regarded as one of the best individual games ever. He racked up 40 possessions and booted four goals, including three in the last quarter and the winner in the last minute. Unsurprisingly, he won the Simpson Medal for best afield in this game.
Football’s statistical experts, Champion Data, then in its infancy, rates players on their performances. An outstanding game scores about 120 points. Champion Data assessed that Krakouer’s grand final would have rated 290 points.
Krakouer had been drafted by Richmond in 2000 and played 102 games before being delisted in 2007. But, after his heroics in the 2010 WAFL grand final, the reigning AFL premier Collingwood was delighted to pick him up for the 2011 season. In his first year with the Magpies, he took mark of the year, and he kicked three goals in the 2011 grand final.
Dawson described Krakouer as a footballer who could do it all: “I remember opposition players thinking they were about to tackle him and they’d grasp thin air because he was gone.”
After football, Krakouer continued to be an inspiration to others, mentoring young prisoners, Indigenous communities and footballers; speaking at schools, clubs and businesses; and co-authoring a children’s book, My Dad’s Gone Away, about a child whose father is incarcerated.
Krakouer had that experience as a youngster, when Jimmy was incarcerated for drug trafficking. In recent years, Krakouer developed a media career, including co-hosting the program Yokayi Footy on SBS and commentating AFLW games.
Speaking candidly about his time in prison on the Fox Footy show On The Mark, Krakouer said he was saddened by his actions that led to his prison term and felt guilty for what he put his family through. The most difficult thing for him during that time was not being able to be there for his girls.
Krakouer said that he was lucky to have the support of family, friends and Swan Districts players and officials during his transition out of prison and that, without that kind of support, many people tend to get back into old habits and reoffend.
Dawson summed up what he called Krakouer’s life story of inspiration and redemption: “Andrew certainly showed that one mistake doesn’t mean it’s forever and if you really commit yourself, you can turn things around. His death is tragic and we’re all devastated at the news. The great pity is that this time there’s no comeback.”
After football, Krakouer continued to be an inspiration to others, mentoring young prisoners, Indigenous communities and footballers; speaking at schools, clubs and businesses; and co-authoring a children’s book, My Dad’s Gone Away, about a child whose father is incarcerated.
Krakouer had that experience as a youngster, when Jimmy was incarcerated for drug trafficking. In recent years, Krakouer developed a media career, including co-hosting the program Yokayi Footy on SBS and commentating AFLW games.
Speaking candidly about his time in prison on the Fox Footy show On The Mark, Krakouer said he was saddened by his actions that led to his prison term and felt guilty for what he put his family through. The most difficult thing for him during that time was not being able to be there for his girls.
Krakouer said that he was lucky to have the support of family, friends and Swan Districts players and officials during his transition out of prison and that, without that kind of support, many people tend to get back into old habits and reoffend.
Dawson summed up what he called Krakouer’s life story of inspiration and redemption: “Andrew certainly showed that one mistake doesn’t mean it’s forever and if you really commit yourself, you can turn things around. His death is tragic and we’re all devastated at the news. The great pity is that this time there’s no comeback.”
