Former Collingwood player Nathan Kreuger reflects on Pies delisting and AFL ambitions after strong start for Geelong VFL
Nathan Kreuger’s frustrating career came to an end last year. Now, he is fit, firing and on the draft radar at the place his AFL journey began. He sheds light on his delisting and how his fiancee sparked his strong start to the year.
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Back where his AFL career began at Kardinia Park, Nathan Kreuger is confident he still has what it takes to impact at the top level.
That’s why his delisting from Collingwood last October – with an agonising wait until the end of the trade period – was so difficult to take initially.
Kreuger, 25, believes the Magpies lost patience and confidence in his body – and he doesn’t blame them, either.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow – especially early, because I still think that I can contribute to an AFL club and do really well. That’s always your first thought,” Kreuger told this masthead.
“My injuries at the end of the day, was the reason why I was probably shown the door and that lack of trust.
“And really, the footy club gives up on you in a way and they go in a different direction... I reflect on it and I go, ‘Yeah I get it, I understand it’s a business as well’.
“I loved my time at Collingwood. Obviously if I could change it, I’d hopefully have no injuries and not have to have any shoulder reconstructions and I’d still be there now to this day and doing well. But that’s obviously a perfect world and perfect story.”
Six months on, the injury-hit tall is fit, firing and back on the radar of AFL clubs ahead of the mid-season draft after an impressive first month of the VFL season with Geelong.
INJURY WOES
The 196 centimetre swingman played just 54 games at VFL and AFL level across six seasons at Geelong and Collingwood.
His three years at Collingwood were cruelled by injury setbacks.
Kreuger underwent two shoulder reconstructions in the space of 12 months – his right operated on in April 2022, and his left in January 2023 – and he watched from the stands on grand final day as the Pies won a premiership.
The Victor Harbor product’s luck looked like it had turned around in in the 2024 pre-season, until a hamstring blow struck in their second practice match.
“I came down heavy through a contest and I landed funny and had a hamstring strain,” Kreuger said.
“And that was just like, I had to have all that hard work go down the drain and the thoughts of, ‘Oh my god, here we go again’, you know?
“That sort of stigma it felt like it was with me a bit.”
On the comeback trail from that injury, he pinged his calf.
“To then push myself really, really hard and get back ahead of schedule, to then pop my calf in the week leading up to coming back, to have another 21 days of rehab and getting myself fit and healthy,” Kreuger said.
Kreuger showed his potential in his first game back in the side in 2024, an imposing three-goal haul on King’s Birthday.
But the man the Pies faithful called ‘KREUG’ managed just five more senior games in the black and white, the last of those subbed out with concussion.
Interest came from Geelong VFL operations manager Aaron Black and from up the highway at Williamstown, but Kreuger chose to return to the club that gave him his first AFL shot in 2018.
SECRET WEAPON
The irony isn’t lost on Kreuger that his body is feeling as good as it ever has.
And his fiancee, middle-distance runner Tess Kirsopp-Cole, has proved to be his secret weapon.
Kreuger hardly touched a footy for 12-weeks after he was cut from Collingwood. Instead, he completed the same gruelling training program as the 2022 Oceania 800-metre title winner.
It was the summer circuit breaker he needed as he shaved 50 seconds off his two kilometre time-trial time.
”My best 2k (time) was probably a 7.15 when I felt like I was fit, and then I did that training period with my partner and we ended up running a 6.25 or something like that,” Kreuger said.
“I feel like my body at the moment is the best it’s ever been, the fittest I’ve ever been, and strongest I’ve been. All that pre-work I did in rehab, I feel like is starting to pay me back now.
“Which is ironic that I’m finally feeling good, when my time in the AFL has been put away.”
The support and motivation from Kirsopp-Cole, who hails from Winchelsea South around 50 kilometres from Geelong, has been even more vital.
“She’s the real athlete in the house if I’m being honest with you. I’ve only had a glimpse of 800m training and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life,” Kreuger said.
“Having her in my corner is a bit of a cheat code.
“The day I got delisted, I was pretty flat and going, ‘I don’t want to do anything’. She’s like, ‘No, let’s go, you’re training with me’, and it just started from there. It was no breaks.
“So she has been bloody lifting me up and dragging me along with her, so she is definitely an inspiration of mine every day.”
BACK TO GO FORWARD
Kreuger trained most of the pre-season as a key forward, but was moved into defence for his Cats return against Sandringham and took the game by storm.
Alongside fellow mid-season draft hopeful Charlie McCartin, Kreuger dominated the air with six intercept marks and three contested marks – which included a soaring specky over a pack.
Nathan Kreuger that is MASSIVE!!
— VFL / VFLW (@VFL) March 23, 2025
🎥: Watch the Smithy’s VFL live and free on the AFL website and AFL Live Official App: https://t.co/3V9lTkTeJkpic.twitter.com/nzVPBMe3Ux
He followed it up with another hanger in round two, and was on track for a similar return before he was shifted forward in the second half.
There was no specky in round three, but he finished with another half a dozen marks from the opposition
“It was a bit of a running joke at both (Geelong and Collingwood) where when I was running and jumping at the ball it was, ‘Just get out of the way, sort of thing,” he chuckled.
“I just feel comfortable and free to be able to run a jump of the ball and just have fun with it, because I know it’s one of my strengths.
“I was hopefully going to try and take (a hanger (in round three), but instead of marking it I spoiled it away so now I’m not averaging a hanger a week, which sucks.
“I was trying to channel my Jeremy Howe.”
Kreuger to pull on the 'Big V'👠Nathan Kreuger has been selected in the final team for the 2025 AAMI State Game!
— Geelong VFL (@GeelongVFL) April 10, 2025
Read More 📖: https://t.co/87TfwuXBEkpic.twitter.com/0alai88and
Kreuger’s friends and family turned out to watch him represent the VFL in their win over the SANFL in South Australia last week, the state he grew up in.
His hot start to the season has seen clubs enquire about Kreuger, who shapes as a ready-made key position option ahead of the mid-season draft.
“I do feel a bit better playing as a backman, I feel like you have time to read the footy a bit more and play with a bit of freedom,” Kreuger said.
“I also feel like I’m a better key forward, which is funny to say, but I feel like forward is my main position, but I know I can play in the backline and feel comfortable doing it.”
AFL DREAM
Getting back on an AFL list hasn’t been Kreuger’s chief aim.
The Ngarrandjerri and Noongar man has found his passion outside of footy, beginning a career in the youth justice system with the hope of one day becoming an Indigenous Liason Officer.
On the field, Kreuger believes he can play a role at both ends of the ground at AFL level.
But his footy focus is enjoyment and continuity, rather than the looming mid-season draft.
“(Entering the season) there was probably a little bit of an element of, ‘I’m still good enough to be here and I know I can play at the highest level’,” Kreuger said.
“But that’s just my own belief in myself for that.
“When I sat down and really went through it, I just wanted to enjoy football again and just play with freedom and not have to stress about getting in for the ones and selection.
“I just want to keep having fun and enjoying myself. I’m enjoying the consistency of playing and training, to be honest.
“I haven’t really had that for a number of years, so I’m going to ride the wave for as long as I can and hopefully this is just a stepping block for me to keep performing and doing well.”
Oh, and he has one other goal.
“Hopefully a hanger a game for the rest of the season,” he joked.
Originally published as Former Collingwood player Nathan Kreuger reflects on Pies delisting and AFL ambitions after strong start for Geelong VFL
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