Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Several weeks ago, Adelaide defender Nathan Bock informed club officials that he was defecting to the Gold Coast (see www.afana.com/drupal5/news/2010/08/18/crow_flies_nest-2229). As a result, he will be teammates in the backline with former opponent Port Adelaide's Nathan Krakouer who has also signed a three year deal with the new expansion team. Both will begin preseason training in November.

Club DEO Travis Auld was delighted with the signing of the duo, saying it was an exciting time as the club builds its list. Coach Guy McKenna said the inclusions would bring experience to the club. He acknowledged Bock's status as a well-respected player who came from a well-organized team. He said the club needed a tall defender such as Bock who "... has the ability to play on big power forwards and ... an attacking mindset with good skills and decision making ... he can set up play from the backline. He has a bold style of play which suits ... our club."

McKenna believes that Krakouer's speed, agility and tackling would complement Bock. He also believes that Krakouer, who has played just 17 games since his 2007 debut, could develop into an exciting player who could play defense, wing or forward. According to McKenna, Krakouer has already expressed a desire to help with the leadership of his indigenous teammates. Bock has also expressed interest in a leadership role with his new club.

The Krakouer name is well-credentialed in football, but also has some tragedy surrounding it. Nathan is the nephew of Jimmy and Phil Krakouer who both starred with North Melbourne1982-89. Their younger brother, Andrew, also played for North but lasted just two seasons. Jim Krakouer's son and Nathan's cousin, Andrew Krakouer, played 102 games for Richmond 2001-2007. He was delisted at the end of 2007 after being arrested and charged with aggravated assault over the the 2006 Christmas holidays. He continued his footy career in the WAFL until 2008, at which time he was found guilty and sentenced to a jail term. He served 16 months but kept his up his footy with the prison team. He was released on parole in 2009 and is currently playing with Swan Districts in the WAFL with the hope of being picked up by another AFL team. His father, Jimmy, was convicted on drug trafficking charges and served nine years in a WA jail.

The AFL notified both Adelaide and Port Adelaide that they would be entitled to compensation draft selections for the the loss of Nathan Bock and Nathan Krakouer to the Gold Coast. The AFL has devised a compensation plan for all clubs who lost players coming out of contract at the end of 2010. The plan can be viewed at www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx.

Under the plan, the AFL determined that Adelaide would be allowed to select another player at the end of the first round of the next five drafts. Port will be allowed an extra selection after the completion of round two of the same drafts. Under the compensation rules, the player selected will be placed on the team list after the club names its full team for that season. In the case of two or more clubs using their compensation picks in a given year, the selections will be based on where those clubs finished in the standings with the the lowest finishing club allowed the first selection at the end of the proscribed draft round with the second lowest finishing club having the next selection, and so on. All clubs who become entitled to a compensation selection will be allowed to trade their compensation selection. The club accepting such a trade will also be allowed the 2010-2014 time frame to activate that selection.

Also under the new rules, the Gold Coast will not be allowed to take another Adelaide or Port Adelaide player who is coming out of contract at the end of 2010.They are, however, allowed access to any delisted player. They are also allowed the same full trading rights as the current 16 AFL clubs.

Adelaide General Manager Phil Harper sad the club believes Bock is worth more than what the AFL is granting under the compensation rules. He and the club plan to appeal for a higher compensation selection. He pointed out the fact that Bock is still relatively young at 27, had won the club's best and fairest award in 2008 and is a two-time All-Australian player.

Source: afl.com.au; David Burtenshaw, Adelaide Media Release; theaustralian.com.au, Encyclopedia of League Footballers; Greg Price, GFC Media Release