Krakouer sad brother missed out
JIM Krakouer was in two minds when informed he had been inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame.
A brilliant rover for Claremont and North Melbourne, Krakouer has lived a rollercoaster life that saw him perform remarkable feats before massive crowds and plummet to the depths of a jail term.
Krakouer, who spent his exhilarating career facing constant and devastating racism, combined with his brother Phil in the most famous one-two combination in the game’s history.
And it is Phil’s absence from the hall of fame that saddened his brother as he prepared for his induction at the joint event with the centenary Sandover Medal count this month.
“We were never known as just Jimmy or Phil Krakouer,” he said. “We were always the Krakouer brothers.
“I’ve got mixed emotions because of my brother. For me personally, it is nice to be recognised … but he was a gun player and I am a bit sad that he has missed out.”
On the racism he faced, Krakouer said he was often cut deeply by the things said to him and found it difficult to let them slide.
“It is not like today because you had to put up with a real lot back in those days,” he said. “It is good the AFL is trying to stamp that stuff out.”