Former Richmond and Collingwood player Andrew Krakouer reflects on Hawthorn allegations

Andrew Krakouer and Leon Davies were the first past players to re-engage with Collingwood after an investigation into racism. He opens up on his cultural role at the club.

Yokayi Footy co-host and former AFL footballer Andrew Krakouer. Picture: Supplied

The overriding emotion I felt after reading the allegations of bullying and intimidation of Indigenous players at Hawthorn was complete sadness.

Last week I was at home, sitting down having a coffee when I started going through the article, which brought back my own recollections of systemic racism.

While trying to process the article I would read a bit then have to stop because it triggered me, making me think about my own experiences.

Placing my phone down quite a few times because it was so upsetting.

As the story went on, the allegations got worse and I became more emotional.

I felt hollow, sick to my stomach, upset, angry and shocked, but above all, so sad.

When Richmond drafted me from WA in 2000, I was 17 and already a dad.

I had a daughter when I was 16.

The late, great Danny Frawley was a beautiful human and as Tigers coach he took a punt on me with a young family, which I am grateful for.

Yokayi Footy co-host and former AFL footballer Andrew Krakouer. Picture: Supplied

When I read the allegation about a couple being pressured to terminate a pregnancy, I thought back to my own situation.

I have got four daughters and I love them to death and could not imagine my life without them.

The thought of being pressured to terminate a pregnancy is hard to fathom.

There are also allegations about families being isolated from the club and told not to come over to Melbourne.

This would be extremely hard and painful to go through as a family.

Partners are so important to a footballer and to the footballing community as a whole.

Our women are our matriarchs and they should be included and valued within footy clubs.

I played my best when my partner was happy.

It is the old cliche: happy wife, happy life.

I was lucky to get great support with my little one and partner when I came to Melbourne.

Richmond and their welfare manager, Dale Weightman, in particular, were so helpful for my family.

In general, more needs to be done for First Nations’ people’s families.

It is not just about the player.

Clubs need to make sure their partner and koorlangkas (children) are also doing well.

People will say ‘what about non-Indigenous players?’

But they are not going through the same challenging and traumatic events as Indigenous players and families.

Andrew Krakouer was grateful ex-Richmond coach Danny Frawley took a punt on him and was great to his family.

Football clubs should have more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have lived experience helping their current and past Indigenous players and their families.

I am talking about former AFL players and their wives and partners too.

If you have not lived it and you do not understand what they are going through, it is pretty hard to try to tell players how to do things, even if there are the best intentions.

They would be able to pass on their knowledge to help current Indigenous squad members navigate day-to-day issues or just be there to talk to when things are difficult.

I think it is extremely important.

Clubs need to also make sure they have a culturally safe space where Indigenous people feel they can come, get the support they need and have people they can lean on.

If you feel like you are alone and have not got that support, it is really difficult.

In my new role at Collingwood, as a cultural consultant, Leon Davis and I are trying to make sure we help create a culturally safe space, not just for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but for everyone to feel welcomed, valued and part of the Magpies family.

Some of the bad experiences, including racism, that I felt in my time at the AFL, I never want anyone else to go through.

There is a mountain of work to be done and we have been starting that journey.

We want to be part of the solution.

It was a little bit tough going back to Collingwood.

You wonder how people are going to look at you, but everyone has been great.

Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan have been caught up in the Hawthorn allegations. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

Coach Craig McRae is a wonderful person and along with others at the club, they’ve welcomed my family and I back with open arms.

With myself and Leon being the first past players to re-engage with our football club after an investigation into racism, we hope our support and advice can make the Collingwood footy club a culturally safe place for players, families, staff and the wider community.

There is no doubt being an Indigenous player at Hawthorn would be uncomfortable right now and they would have mixed emotions.

It would be a difficult time for them as well.

With this being said I think all clubs should look at re-engaging with current and former players.

Whether they played one game, 100 or no games, they should check up on them and their families welfare.

Sometimes our mob do not feel like they belong at their club because of negative experiences in the past, so it is important to re-engage and get past Indigenous men and families back there.

It would also help the current First Nations players.

Another thing that needs to happen across the AFL is the same energy and willingness to learn, accept, enjoy and appreciate Indigenous Round needs to happen all year round, not just for one or two weeks.

Andrew Krakouer during his Collingwood playing days. Picture: AAP/Joe Castro

With the correct people leading the way, the AFL can become pioneers in bridging the gap of understanding First Nations people and our experiences.

However, it is not just an AFL problem, but a society one, from the government down.

I also believe racism is a public health issue.

Racism continues to lower our life expectancy and impact all areas of our lives.

It takes away our sense of pride and dignity, and breaks our wirin, our spirit.

Systemic racism has been a common theme within the AFL for a long period and it has led to multi-generational trauma.

This is being proven by the continued mistreatment of men, women and families within football at all levels.

In WA, I have nephews in country leagues who still receive disgusting racist comments and they really struggle.

Why do we still have to put up with people having a crack at our skin colour, our culture and who we are?

No one should have to experience that – you are not born a racist, racism is taught.

I believe the Indigenous players and their partners who are speaking their truth at Hawthorn because I know what I went through, my truth.

Of course, people have got a right to reply and the investigation will take its due course.

In the meantime, I just want to wrap my arms around my brothers, sisters and the families involved and let them know they are not alone, we support them, we have their back.

It is going to be a really tough journey of healing for everyone.

* Andrew Krakouer is Yokayi Footy’s co-host, a cultural consultant at Collingwood, a 137-game former player at Richmond and the Magpies, and a proud Minang and Inggarda man.

Originally published as Former Richmond and Collingwood player Andrew Krakouer reflects on Hawthorn allegations