Abbott gets AFL call up

Explosive Claremont forward Brenden Abbott became the newest Great Southern footballer to join AFL ranks when the Royals and Railways product was selected by Collingwood in yesterday morning’s AFL rookie draft.

Touted as a potential late selection in last Thursday’s national draft, Abbott was taken by the Magpies with pick 26 in the second round yesterday.

Earlier in the rookie draft, Port Adelaide sprung a surprise by taking Mt Barker’s Nathan Krakouer with their first round selection, pick 16.

Three Great Southern footballers have now been drafted to the AFL this week with Abbott and Krakouer joining North Albany’s Mitch McGovern, who was picked up by Adelaide in the national draft.

Abbott impressed Collingwood in his 15 league games for Claremont this season, where he kicked 18 goals, according to Magpies recruiting manager Derek Hine.

“Brenden Abbott’s a little bit of a project player for us,” Hine told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“He’s really powerful and has just got a really natural talent.”

“He’s a beautiful kick of the football … we’re really pleased to bring him in.”

Krakouer was originally drafted by Port in 2006 with pick 39 in the national draft and made his debut in 2007, playing 40 games with the club before he walked out on them for a lucrative three-year deal with Gold Coast.

The talented utility played 13 games for the Suns in his first season before quitting the club and AFL football , citing “personal reasons”.

In 2012, Krakouer was exploring a possible bid to play for Mt Barker in the GSFL but instead chose to pull on the boots for amateur club Maddington.

Last year, the 26-year-old moved back to South Australia where he played with Port Adelaide in the SANFL competition.

Power coach Ken Hinkley said Krakouer’s performance at SANFL level in 2014 showed he deserved a second chance with the club.

“We were pleased with the way Nathan turned around his fitness and the commitment he showed to the club on the track and on the field this year,” Hinkley told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“It’s very rare that you can pick up a player of Nathan’s talent at pick 16 of the rookie draft.”

Fellow Great Southern footballers Darcy Cameron and Matt Palfrey were both overlooked in yesterday’s drafts.

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