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Demetriou wants Krakouer back

By Tim Clarke
14 February 2012 04:18PM EST

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou says he hopes football can once again be a soothing influence on the troubles of Collingwood high-flyer Andrew Krakouer.

A turbulent summer for the West Australian culminated in a four week leave of absence from Collingwood, who said they would stand by their man as he battled some personal troubles.

Believed to have been overweight and out of shape on his return from the off-season, Krakouer is also thought to have battled through financial and personal issues.

Speaking on the eve of the NAB Cup, Demetriou said he wished a speedy recovery for the 29-year-old, who recovered from a stint in prison for a serious assault to become a grand finalist and mark of the year winner in 2011.

“It is great that the club is supporting him and have given him time off to sort out those personal issues,” Demetriou told Fox Sports.

“Football is all about rehabilitating people and we have seen that with Ben Cousins and we have seen it is with Andrew Krakouer and others in giving them a second chance.

“I hope Andrew sorts out what he has got to sort out, and hope he comes back and plays good football like he did last year. He took that fantastic mark.

“We would love to see him back playing for Collingwood.”

The lively goalsneak will be “welcomed back with open arms” when he is ready to return to the Magpies, according to his skipper Nick Maxwell.

But Mick Malthouse, who coached Krakouer for the 2011 season, said he worries about the former Richmond forward’s mental state, without the support of close mate and former ‘Pies forward Leon Davis.

"I think when the games start he'll probably feel a bit better, but Leon Davis won't be there," Malthouse told 3AW in Melbourne.

Davis returned to live in Perth with his family at the end of the 2011 season, after reportedly playing a crucial role in support of Krakouer.

Krakouer was one of football’s great stories of redemption when he was drafted by the Magpies at the end of 2010, following his release from a WA prison and rise through the football ranks in Perth.

Malthouse said he had tried to get in contact with the talented goalsneak and said he was concerned Krakouer would miss being close to his wife and two young daughters.

"It's not about football, this is about life," Malthouse said.

"Will his family be there? Well, the girls are pretty happy being in Western Australia, will they come back (or)... live with their grandparents from time to time?

“I'm not 100 per cent sure. I hope so for his sake, but stranger things have happened.

"I want to see him get his life in order if that's the case.

"If he comes back to football - well and good - but I want to get in touch on the humanity thing, not so much the football thing.

"I want to make contact with him, he's such a beautiful kid.”

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Add your comment... Comments (2)
johno 15 February 2012 9:23AM

Football is about rehabilitating people .... unless your name is Fevola.

Collingwood make me laugh, they are trying to rehab Kraks by taking him away from his family in Perth. Why didn't West Coast or Freo draft him? Because Collingwood outbid them because Collingwood cares about Collingwood and having its name in the news every second of every day. They tack themselves onto Kraks comeback in order to say "look how wonderful we are", while they forget about Tarrant and how he was shunted off to Freo only to return once he'd gotten his life back in order AWAY from the pies. So now Collingwood can again say "look how wonderful we are now Tarrant is back and happy".

New York Fan 16 February 2012 7:50AM

You are a 'D' Johnno. Your point is that CFC is the problem? This club seems to have a team culture, played off for your country's AFL priemership last two years and looks after its people like all successful organisations do. They cant have been successful without a good culture. You clearly have no experience with elite sports clubs, coaching young athletes and A grade sports competitions or you wouldn't be mouthing off. I am happy to tell you who I am and as an Australian what I do in elite sports coaching internationally; are you happy to say what you do that makes you an expert on the rubbish you just put out there?