BREAKING NEWSFooty is thrown into mourning as star Andrew Krakouer dies aged just 42 after staging inspirational comeback when his career was almost sunk by a stint in jail

The footy world is in mourning over the death of Andrew Krakouer, who died of a suspected heart attack in Perth on Sunday aged just 42.

Born in Melbourne, he racked up 102 games for Richmond from 2001 to 2007 before a jail term interrupted his AFL career.

Krakouer was sentenced to at least 16 months in jail for a serious assault in 2006, with his younger brother also imprisoned over his role in the attack.

However, Andrew fought his way back into the AFL after his release on parole in 2009, going on to rack up 35 games with Collingwood from 2011 to 2013.

Once his first-grade career was over, he moved into construction and became a TV host and public speaker who specialised in sharing the lessons he’d learned during his rollercoaster career.

Footy legend Nathan Buckley, who coached Krakouer at Collingwood, was devastated by the news. 

After starring for the Richmond Tigers, Krakouer spent time in jail before resurrecting his career with Collingwood (pictured)

‘That’s tragic, so young at 42,’ he said on Monday.

‘What a brilliant footballer. A really calm, quiet teammate, who was respectful and went about his business.

‘I really enjoyed the years with him, that’s really sad for his family and his mates.’

News of Krakouer’s death is the fourth tragedy this year to involve big footy names who’ve died young, coming on the heels of the death of Joel Selwood’s brother and Brisbane Lions star Troy, 40, in February.

West Coast grand final hero Adam Hunter died aged 43, also in February, just days after Essendon coach Dale Tapping lost his battle with blood cancer at the age of 59.

Krakouer excelled as a small forward with the Tigers, regularly featuring as one of the club’s top goal kickers after being taken with the 41st pick of the 2000 AFL draft.

His world came tumbling down in 2008 when he was found guilty of assault with intent to cause bodily harm after an attack outside a nightclub in Fremantle in December 2006.

A man who had previously king-hit Krakouer, Justin Martin, was left in a coma after the fight.

Nathan Buckley, who coached Krakouer (pictured) was shattered by the news and described the star as a ‘brilliant footballer’

Krakouer is pictured outside court in 2007 as he faced a trial that saw him jailed over a nightclub fight that left a man in a coma 

Krakouer shared the lessons from his roller-coaster career and time in jail by becoming a public speaker after his retirement from footy (pictured)

Krakouer was sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 16 months. His brother Tyrone was found guilty of a lesser charge and jailed for a minimum of eight months.

The Tigers and Magpies star had two young daughters at the time and struggled when they visited him in jail.

‘My children and my partner, they came out to see me every week. I remember that was hard for me and for my kids. I didn’t want them to come in,’ he told SBS in 2022.

‘I could remember visiting my own dad in prison, and it wasn’t a good thing. It was great to see him, but it was still sad.

‘To just to get out and be a dad again, and a good partner to Barbara, that was my driving force, that was my motivation.’

More to come…