Paul Roos pays tribute to the late Indigenous AFL player Andrew Krakouer

Andrew Krakouer's life was a story of redemption, according to premiership coach Paul Roos.

This story features the names and images of deceased Aboriginal people, which have been used with the permission of their families.

Roos spoke on ABC's AFL Daily podcast about Krakouer, who died in Perth of a suspected heart attack on Sunday at the age of 42.

The dynamic Western Australian small forward played 137 AFL games for Collingwood and Richmond between 2001 and 2013.

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley (L) has been among the many to pay tribute to the late Andrew Krakouer. (Getty Images: Michael Dodge)

But Roos said the work Krakouer did outside football following a prison term he served in the late 2000s was an important element of his story.

"I had some emails from Andrew about three or four years ago, we were looking to do a program in a prison together, and then COVID hit," Roos said.

Loading...

"I think [it's a story] of redemption, it's really sad. I didn't know him well, but Matty Richardson, Nathan Buckley, they all speak highly of him, and my interactions with him were always fantastic."

Krakouer was delisted from Richmond at the end of 2007, returning to Perth to play for Swan Districts in the WAFL.

The following year, he was convicted of assault with intent to cause bodily harm and was sentenced to four years in jail. He was released on parole in August 2009 and returned to football.

Former Magpies and Tigers AFL player Andrew Krakouer dies aged 42 Photo shows red sherrin football to sitting on green grass with football goal posts and football club in the background Andrew Krakouer, who played 137 AFL games for Richmond and Collingwood, has died age 42.

But Krakouer's rehabilitation came on and off the football field — he won a WAFL premiership for Swan Districts before being picked up by Collingwood and getting to a grand final.

After a leg injury, he returned to WA to play for West Perth before retirement.

Following his football career he went into the media on TV program Yokayi Footy, the AFL's Colour of Your Jumper series and special comments for Fox Footy on the AFLW.

In 2024, he co-wrote a children's book, My Dad's Gone Away, which focused on the challenges for kids of having a parent in prison.

On the field, Krakouer had an eye for big games, with three goals in a losing cause for Collingwood in the 2011 grand final against Geelong.

He won the AFL's mark of the year award in 2011 for a spectacular effort against the Adelaide Crows at Docklands.

Loading YouTube content

Roos also referred to Krakouer's dominating performance in the 2010 WAFL grand final for Swan Districts.

"I just read in the [WAFL] grand final, he had 42 [disposals] and kicked four or something! If it was Champion Data or Supercoach points it would have been 290 points," he said.

"That's a phenomenal performance, super talented [as a player].

"[It's] super sad, 42 — it's really sad when you read it, there's not much you can say to the family and friends other than we're thinking of everyone and the whole footy community is very good at wrapping their arms around people when it happens.

"[He was] a really good player and a story of redemption — that's what I remember most."

"Just a great contributor to his community and a great contributor to football in general."

Click here to read article