Andrew Krakouer’s tumultuous AFL career has suffered a cruel blow, with a serious knee injury potentially sidelining the Collingwood forward for the season.
The 29-year-old suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on Saturday, limping off during the second quarter of a VFL practice match against Geelong at Simmonds Stadium.
He is the second Collingwood forward in a week to rupture an ACL, with Brent Macaffer undergoing a season-ending knee reconstruction after suffering the injury last Saturday night in a pre-season game.
Scans later confirmed the severity of the injury and doctors will now decide whether Krakouer has a season-ending reconstruction or undergoes the newer LARS surgery.
The LARS procedure has a quicker healing time, but it also a higher risk of another rupture.
“It is extremely disappointing for Andrew and the club that this injury has occurred,” Collingwood football director Geoff Walsh said in a statement.
“Andrew will meet with the surgeon over the next few days to discuss the surgery and rehabilitation process.”
The injury comes only a few days after Krakouer returned to the club, cutting short four weeks of leave.
Krakouer had returned to WA to deal with personal issues.
Earlier this month, former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse had expressed concern about Krakouer’s welfare.
Once the severity of Saturday’s injury was known, Malthouse went on Twitter to call it “a bloody sporting tragedy. I feel so sorry for him.”
Krakouer was an amazing story last year as he made his AFL comeback with the Magpies.
After playing 102 games with Richmond from 2001-07, he spent 16 months in jail for assault.
He made a successful comeback to football through the WAFL in 2010 and then went to Collingwood.
Krakouer played 23 out of 25 games last season, finished second in Collingwood’s scoring with 35 goals and took the AFL mark of the year.
Apart from Krakouer and Macaffer, Alan Didak (abductor muscle) and Ben Johnson (hamstring) have also added to Collingwood’s injury list this month.
The Magpies have been the early premiership favourites after losing to Geelong in last year’s grand final by 38 points.
