Few players in VFL/AFL history have had the capacity to excite and entertain fans as Andrew Krakouer could. And even fewer have had a football story to match his own.

Son of one of the greatest Indigenous footballers of all time, Krakouer's first foray into the AFL world saw him as a creative but inconsistent small forward. But after a stint in prison for assult he returned to the WAFL to produce one of the most fabled seasons on record, earning himself another crack at the big time with Collingwood. And there he produced another wonder season, winning the AFL's Mark of the Year and almost propelling the Pies to back-to-back flags. But just as he looked set for a late-career renaissance, a big knee injury all but cruelled his hopes.

It was a hell of a ride.

The son of former North Melbourne legend Jimmy Krakouer, Andrew's AFL journey started when he was recruited to Richmond from South Fremantle, taken with pick 41 in the 2000 National Draft. He was seen as a long-term prospect, but showed glimpses of the family magic in his first three appearances in 2001. In 2002 he showed he was capable of brilliant pieces of football, but was unable to string it all together consistently. In 2004 he played every game and started to mature as a footballer, finishing sixth in the best and fairest. 

While he lacked consistency over the following couple of years he was constantly willing to apply pressure in the forward area and still a thrilling player to watch. Even so, he was released by Richmond at the end of 2007 and returned to the WAFL, this time with Swan Districts. 

But football had to take a back seat after he was convicted and sent to prison in WA over a serious assault. He was initially sentenced to four years jail, though that was later reduced. He was released on parole in August of 2009, and returned to football with Swan Districts in 2010.

And what a return that was. He had a superb season, winning the Sandover Medal (as the best and fairest player in the WAFL), and the Simpson Medal, as best afield in the Grand Final. Krakouer’s performance in the 2010 WAFL Grand Final has gone down in football folklore: he gathered 42 disposals, kicked four goals - including the winner with just second sremaining - and almost single-handedly won his side the game.

His fairytale was completed when he was pre-listed by Gold Coast during October, and then traded to Collingwood (along with Murray Bushranger Jonathon Ceglar) in exchange for selection 25.

Krakouer made a fine return to AFL football, playing 23 of the 25 matches for Collingwood in that 2011 season and kicking a career-high 35 goals. His inclusion released Leon Davis to the backline where he was named in the All-Australian team. Krakouer himself played in the side’s pre-season Premiership and complied an impressive highlights reel as the year progressed. He won Mark of the Year for his hanger over Adelaide’s Luke Thompson and teammate Dayne Beams in round nine and bagged four goals twice (in rounds 19 and 23) and laid 78 tackles.

He also quickly became a favourite of the Magpie Army, thrilling fans with his sublime skills, extraordinary evasive ability and the capacity to conjure goals out of nowhere. Former coach Danny Frawley had once said of him that he was the player most likely to win a Brownlow Medal "if football was played in a phonebox", such was his ability to find space and be clean in congestion.

Krakouer was one of the better performed Magpies on Grand Final day that year, kicking three goals in the first half and setting the side alight before Geelong reined him in.

But trouble struck in February 2012 when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a practice match against Geelong on a boiling hot day at Kardinia Park. He had switched from No.7 to No.3 during the off-season but quickly arranged a move back to his old number. Remarkably, Krakouer staged a late-season comeback, working his way through his rehabilitation with Brent Macaffer. The pair returned together in the VFL against Bendigo, and it took Krakouer only a matter of weeks before he slotted back into the senior side, kicking a goal from 11 disposals against Essendon in round 23. He was worth his weight in gold a week later, kicking four goals in the Qualifying Final loss to Hawthorn, but went goalless in the fortnight that followed.

Krakouer endured a topsy-turvy 2013, first appearing in round six and playing eight of the next 10 games before being omitted after the shock loss to Gold Coast in round 17. Still, he had proven that his best was still up to scratch, kicking three goals to help sink Geelong and Carlton. At the age of 30, Krakouer was delisted at the end of the season, but left with his head held high, thrilling the fans with 50 goals in 35 games. He would later return to the Club to work with Leon Davis in helping implement the findings of the Do Better report.

The football world was shocked when news came through late in March of 2025 that Andrew Krakouer had passed away from a suspected heart attack, aged just 42. He left behind a raft of magical memories on both sides of the country.