Daily Player reviews #27 Andrew Krakouer

[OMH]

One of the guys who is in a Tigers e-mail loop with me at work is putting together a one-a-day player critique starting at #1 and working through the player list. It's a pretty good read so I thought I would share it with you.

Part 26 in the series….


27 - Andrew Krakouer
>
> Position: Midfielder / Small Forward (Yes, it's really the other way around, that's looking forward a year or two).
> Age: Just turned 20 at the start of Feb.
> Height: 174cm (Was listed at 177cm in 2002???)
> Weight: 73kg
> Career Games: 16
> Career Goals: 12
> Draft History: Selection no 41 in the 2000 National Draft from South Fremantle.
>
> 2002 Averages: 13 games, 2.7 Kicks, 0.9 Marks, 1 Handballs, 0.7 Goals, 1 Tackle, 0 Rebounds, 0.9 Inside 50s, 0.6 Clearance, 0.6 Clangers
>
> 2002 Summary: Failed really to make any great impact in 2002. 7 possessions (twice) were his best efforts. Managed 2 goals in Round 1, and while there were plenty of flashes, he really made no improvement over 2001.
>
> Previously: 3 games in 2001 for 2 goals.
>
> Ability: 6 - I rate Krakouer very highly on ability for this stage of his career, what he does, he can do beautifully, just hasn't done it anywhere near enough yet.
>
> Offence: 5.5 - Has an ability I like in a forward, the ability to create his own opportunity, although has a lot to learn about where to get to the ball, he does has the finishing skills to be a quality forward.
>
> Defence: 1.5 - Hard to rate him, never seen him shown any defensive inclination, although it's too early to determine if he'll have a reasonable defensive side to his game. Was disappointing in his inability to help keep the ball in the forward line at times and tackles were pretty easily broken at times.
>
> Hardness: 2 - Looked very much like a junior playing in a men's league during his first two years. Easily brushed aside and a bit gun-shy of treading into the packs. As he gains strength and size, he'll be able to hold his own a bit better in this regard and I expect to upgrade him in this rating by the end of this year.
>
> Speed: 3.5 - Can look quick through anticipation at times, but lacks the pace off the mark that he really needs (IMHO), again I'm hopeful this is a physical development issue along with gaining some sort of reasonable fitness base.
>
> Stamina: 2.5 - A bit hard to tell as he's never had a great deal of game time, but through 2001 and 2002 he looked to struggle with his stamina.
>
> Delivery: 6 - A beautiful kick but can make decision errors and has lacked a few yards of penetration in his kicking.
>
> Air: 1 - Will never be a great overhead mark, needs some more reliability though.
>
> Ground: 6 - Great balance, able to keep his feet and clean with the ball on the ground.
>
> Injury: 5 - Rated him average, no real great injury concerns, but too early to tell.
>
> Temperament: 4 - Seems to go out of the game a bit too easily and looks a bit over-awed. No dummy-spitting concerns though.
>
> Ball: 2 - His big failing so far, although it's from limited game time often he simply doesn't get enough of the ball.
>
> Strengths: Great skills, has undoubted class and is good by foot. Can do the exceptional.>
>
> Weaknesses: In and out of games, mainly out. Really needs to make more contests. Lacks the strength to stand up in a pack and needs to do more to hold the ball in the forward line.
>

 

[OMH]

Overall: On reading the above info, there's not a lot yet to suggest excitement about Andy, but my overall view of him is exactly the opposite. I genuinely believe Krakouer is set to finally provide genuine impact as a small forward with stints in the midfield rotation and will move into the midfield on a consistent basis through 2004 on. He has the raw material, but he looked to me that he came to Richmond physically well under-developed and was always going to take a couple of years to get going. 2003 will be an important year for him, he doesn't have to star, but he has to start to genuinely earn his spot and provide some more consistent impact on games. If he was a stock - I'd say BUY! It looks like he finally added some weight and strength and if he's body holds up under that strain he should finally make a decent impact this year. As his running capacity improves he will start to make more contests, become an option more often, remain dangerous later in the game. As his strength increases he will be able to take a stint in the midfield without simply getting pushed off the footy and looking like the proverbial "Deer in the Headlights" he did when given stints there in 2002, which raises the big concern - can he find the footy? As much as he's a "could be" if he can't find the footy he won't make a player. I was impressed to hear he had worked a lot on his strength, size and speed and early showings this year indicate this. His ability to stay on his feet, handle the ball cleanly and deliver well makes him very valuable, a dozen touches a week by Krakouer in 2003 will be good impact, but he does need to move past this if he is to be a top line midfielder. Having said all that his career could go nowhere fast if he doesn't lift this year.

What he needs to do?
1) Ask the AFL to get his height correct in their official guide, apparently he shrunk 3cm in 12 months!
2) Weight room - strength, both upper-body and legs, was far too fragile at his 2001/2002 size.
3) Speed - needs to work on his running technique, be more prepared to explode off the mark. Some of this will come naturally as he physically matures.
4) Find the ball more, he needs to work harder to get to more contests and present "front and square" at the marking contest more.
5) General fitness - I get the feeling he just waltzed around in junior footy and pretty much thought he could do the same at AFL level. A fitter Krakouer will be much different player.
6) Aim at 12+ touches per game, 20+ goals for the season

 

[mightytiges]

Agree with most of what OMH's friend says. The Allstar game would have given Andy great confidence in playing in the middle this year. He'll probably still play more forward than midfield this year as he's still developing but in either position his freaky, sleeky skills will be great for us and much welcomed in the midfield. The more options for midfield rotation the better and less predictable a team we will be.

 

[admin]

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[PuntRoadRoar]

i like him, tries his heart out, great skills, need more help from our bigger fowards.

keep up the foward pressure krakka and you will go far

 

[the claw]

he obviously has great skills but all the skill in the world wont help you if you cant get your hands on the leather.as i have said on another thread i have serious doubts about andy. i hopr im proven wrong and he goes on to be a great player for us.

 

[evo]

Yeh,I with claw.He's enigmatic and exciting at times but he doesnt get his hands on the pill nearly enough.
He was continually beaten in one out marking contests and easily bumped off the ball.
2004 is make or break year for him.I doubt he ll ever become a regular on baller but it would be great if he could mould himself into a Ronnie Burns/Matera forward pocket specialist type.

 

[the claw]

its now the end of 04 and the same concerns ring true now as was stated in 02 imo he wont make it. i say this with extreme caution as most ferals get very upset with anyone who dares criticise one of their favorites.

 

[the golden]

hhq have been doing that it is a good idea

 

[Hammerfire]

its now the end of 04 and the same concerns ring true now as was stated in 02 imo he wont make it. i say this with extreme caution as most ferals get very upset with anyone who dares criticise one of their favorites.

Same old drivel i see Claw.

He has all the talent in the world, HOWEVER he lacks consistency and some fitness.

Get used to him Claw as we signed him for 3 years recently, though it should only of been 2 years.

 

[the claw]

its now the end of 05 and andrew has shown he is never going to make the grade.he still has all of the weaknesses listed by OMHs friend and you could probably add a few other detrimental things to them. hes played a handful of passable games in the last 2 yrs and the amazing thing is in that time he has never been dropped for lack of form.
i now await with abated breath for the apologists of krakouer to come out of the wood work and demand we give him another yr as he has talent but he just cant find the pill yet.

 

[Bill James]

Claw he's just like you, lots of talent just can't find the grammar. :cutelaugh

Was a defender of the boy early in the year as he was young and was an average player. This was the year he had to step up a level and I reckon he has gone backwards over the season. Hard to make a case for him. If Bling hits his straps next year as a small forward Krak will stuggle for a game.