Sacked: Andrew Krakouer’s regret over Eddie McGuire’s King Kong comment and how Pies will learn from Heritier Lumumba probe

Andrew Krakouer has lifted the lid on life at Collingwood in the immediate aftermath of the Eddie McGuire King Kong slur. He’s also revealed dramatic new details about how he intervened after hearing Heritier Lumumba being called “chimp”.

Andrew Krakouer has opened up on his regrets in the aftermath of the Eddie McGuire King Kong disaster

Andrew Krakouer says his greatest regret at Collingwood is not speaking out publicly about Eddie McGuire’s King Kong comment, admitting he felt pressured to play in the days after that racism furore.

But the former Collingwood goalsneak genuinely believes the club’s investigation into Heritier Lumumba’s racism accusations can be a platform for healing and understanding at the club.

Krakouer says McGuire is interested in helping Lumumba and making the necessary changes at Collingwood that come from the inquiry.

Krakouer is one of four former teammates who heard teammate Lumumba called “chimp” in his time at Collingwood and expects to be interviewed by professor Larissa Behrendt as part of the inquiry.

He told the Herald Sun’s Sacked podcast he is also happy to talk about the dramatic aftermath of McGuire’s King Kong reference about Adam Goodes in 2013.

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Krakouer says he was not in the right mindset to play football that weekend but believed he needed to support a club that had resuscitated his career after spending 16 months in jail for assault after he was dragged into a long-standing family feud.

“I felt like if I didn’t play, it was like a political statement against Ed and the club. I felt like I didn’t want to upset the apple cart by upsetting the footy club and the president who had given me a second opportunity after I had come out of prison.

Andrew Krakouer celebrates after kicking a goal

“People don’t understand the enormity of that, from my point of view. You don’t want to throw anyone under the bus but then I am in a situation where I am not being true to my values as an Aboriginal man, and as Noongar man and to my ancestors and my parents and the battles they fought and what they have had to go through so that we can live our lives the way we do.

“It was a juggling act, I am turning against myself for the benefit of the football club, it was a tough one at the time. With the investigation it might get raised.”

Asked if he now regrets playing, he replied: “Not really. I wish I would have spoken up … I didn’t say anything. I played, but I regret not saying anything.

“I was all right with me playing but I regret not being able to speak to Eddie and the footy club, sit down with them in the right manner, probably with Heritier as well and to be able to understand our point of view as well.

“It was a bit of a learning curve for myself but I have a bit of a platform now and I can say something to help other people in that situation, to have the confidence to speak.”

Krakouer has spoken regularly to McGuire about the investigation and believes it comes from a place of genuine contrition for Collingwood.

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Heritier Lumumba held back tears on The Project describing the tag he carried around at the club. Picture: The Project

“(Eddie) is totally trying to help and seeing if we can learn, he is trying to be a part of the solution and to educate one another and be on the same path, but there is still a bit of water to go under the bridge.

“(The investigation) will help enormously. I look back at my journey and to be accountable and put your hand up and understand what you have done wrong and I was able to move on in my journey, and how much of a difference it is to me.

“If that can happen, there will be a healing of both Heritier and the footy club and they can move forward in a positive manner.”

Krakouer, Chris Dawes, Brent Macaffer and American Shae McNamara all heard Lumumba being called “chimp” during their time at the club.

Former coach Mick Malthouse says he never heard that nickname and denies any allegations of a racist culture at the club.

Lumumba says coach Nathan Buckley was involved in an eight-hour one-on-one mediation with him over his claims, but Buckley says it was only after the Collingwood premiership defender‘s career ended he heard from him about the “chimp” allegations.

Krakouer says there is no doubt it was used by players towards Lumumba.

“It is fact, I heard it, I remember I was working away and I was having a close eye on (his claims) and seeing how it was progressing and no one was supporting him, no one was coming up and I thought how can they?

“I heard it a couple of times, I heard it. When I heard it I had a chat to Heritier about it as well.

When I first heard it, I just said to him it wasn’t right and shouldn’t happen. No one should be calling you that.

“It is the process of getting investigated and it is at a point now where they want to find out what they need to find out. And from my point of view, it is factual.

“People need to come together, it is not about naming names or throwing people under the bus, it is about change and understanding and educating one another and working together to come towards a solution and making sure it doesn’t happen again.

“Now a couple of other people Macaffer and Dawes have come out and supported him as well. it absolutely validates his point. hopefully the club and Heritier can work together and can go forward and be able to acknowledge what has happened because you have three former players who have come and supported that, (they need to) come together and find a solution whatever that might be.”

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