Nathan Krakouer’s long road back to Port Adelaide
PORT Adelaide Magpies player Nathan Krakouer admits he would do a few things differently if he had his time again.
NATHAN Krakouer admits he would do a few things differently if he had his time again.
The precociously talented Port Magpies player prefers not to detail exactly what he’d change, but it’s safe to say he’d alter the course of events that led to him being cast into the football wilderness by age 23.
It’s even safer to say he would never have left Alberton to accept a deal at franchise club the Gold Coast Suns in 2010.
“There’s obviously things that if I could turn back time and do things differently, I would,’’ Krakouer says.
“I’m not going to say what those things were because I want to focus on the future …
“But I have definitely learnt some things from the past.”
Krakouer’s return to Alberton this year — albeit to join the Magpies not the Power — surprised many because of the nature of his departure four years earlier.
At the time a blindsided Port expressed disappointment at the way a player it invested so much in defected, under AFL concessions which allowed the Suns to sign a contracted player from each club ahead of 2011.
“Given the commitment our football club has made to Nathan’s development and welfare over the last four years, we are very disappointed at the way the matter has been handled,” Power operations manager Peter Rohde said in a 2010 statement directed partially at Krakouer’s then manager Carlos De Costa, who notified the Power by text message of his player’s decision.
Krakouer lasted one season in the Gold Coast before being released on personal grounds, and by 2012 he was playing amateur football.
It was an incredible slide for a player who played 11 matches in Port’s 2007 grand final season as a rookie.
The West Australian owned one of the fastest 20m sprint times as was so highly regarded the Power began grooming as Peter Burgoyne’s long-term replacement across half-back.
Krakouer says his return to Alberton this year is not about an AFL redemption — it is not necessarily about repaying debts either.
He is back in Adelaide first and foremost to be part of son Nathan’s life.
But he also wants to get the most he can out of his remaining years in football — be it in the SANFL or AFL.
“I don’t think I got the best out of myself back then,’’ he says.
“(Going forward) I just want to get the best I can out of my football … I’d be happy to play at the Magpies now until I’m old enough retire. I just want to enjoy playing my football at the best level I can.”
Krakouer admits feeling some initial awkwardness upon his return to Alberton after being put back in touch with the club by a friend. but he soon felt comfortable again and began putting his head down.
He has lost about 9kg since resuming training in January and earned a call up to Port’s league team in April, where he has progressively improved in five matches.
The versatile midfielder has reportedly not missed a beat on the track since returning.
“All the things I’ve been doing since I’ve been back at the Magpies — training hard, getting my skin folds down and watching my weight — I just wish I had a better understanding of those things back then,’’ he says.
“That’s not anyone elses fault, it’s my fault, but I don’t think I was mature enough back then …
“I think I’ve grown up a lot in the last couple of years.”
NATHAN KRAKOUER
Age: 26
Drafted: to Port Adelaide, Pick No. 39 at the 2006 AFL National Draft, with he Power declaring it a draft day bargain.
AFL debut: March 31, 2007 for Port Adelaide v Fremantle
Games: 53 (40 with Port and 13 with Gold Coast)
Last AFL game: August 13, 2011
Facts: The nephew of former North Melbourne greats Jimmy and Phil Krakouer, Nathan returned to Port Adelaide Magpies this season four years after leaving Alberton to join the Gold Coast Suns.