Krakouer granted four weeks absence

Andrew Krakouer’s immediate AFL career is in limbo after his club Collingwood granted him permission to take four weeks off to deal with ‘personal issues’.

Krakouer who joined the Magpies as a mature-age recruit last year, kicking 35 goals in 23 appearances asked his club to take a leave an absence to deal with ‘personal issues’ and the premiership favourites agreed.

Both parties agreed to the deal which will allow the 29-year-old to deal with the personal issues without the pressure of training and playing commitments but over the four weeks Krakouer will undergo a specified training regime to maintain his fitness and skills.

“The issues that Andrew is dealing with are of a personal nature, and we will be supporting him in every way possible during this period,” Collingwood director of football Geoff Walsh said on Friday.

“Andrew is held in high regard at Collingwood and we look forward to his return to team training in due course.”

It has been a week to forget for the Magpies with a pair of veterans in Alan Didak (abductor) and Ben Johnson (hamstring) ruled out of the up-coming NAB Cup due to suffering injuries at training.

In other AFL News:

- Young Hawthorn recruit Jack Gunston starred in his club intra-club match as the 20-year-old kicked four goals down in Launceston

- Former Brownlow Medallist and star Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney admitted that his injury plagued 2011 season was frustrating and is on track to play in round one following a bout of knee surgery in the off-season

- Port Adelaide has re-appointed midfielder Dominic Cassisi as the club’s captain with young and up-coming midfielder Travis Boak being named as his vice-captain