Claremont, they were part of Claremont's WAFL Premiership side, beating the 1980 premiers South Fremantle. North Melbourne career After being pursued by Geelong and North Melbourne, the Krakouer brothers signed with North Melbourne on a three-year contract worth a total of $750,000 ($2,788,132 in 2021 terms). The main reasons for choosing the Kangaroos over Geelong were due to Western Australian football legend Barry Cable being the North Melbourne coach and the contract payments being guaranteed rather than performance-based. In their second season in the VFL, Jim and Phil both kicked 44 goals and shared the leading goalkicker award at North Melbourne. Jim was awarded the Syd Barker Medal for club best and fairest in 1986 and topped the goalkicking again in 1986 and 1988. Phil was the leading goalkicker in 1985 and 1987. The Krakouer brothers were praised for their highly skilful play and the manner in which they often passed to each other from almost any position. In one match report in 1986, they were referred to as the "Pelé and Maradona of the VFL". Jim Krakouer was named in the Indigenous Team of the Century in 2005. Criminal convictions In 1974, Krakouer, at the age of 16, was convicted of rape in Albany Court; despite maintaining the sex was consensual, his lawyer advised him to plead guilty. He was convicted in the same court of driving causing death in 1976. In 1985, Krakouer was convicted of 26 counts of sexual penetration of a minor, assault, abduction and unlawful imprisonment. Despite being very well paid during his career, Krakouer was a problem gambler and frittered away all of his money. Consequently, Krakouer turned to crime to get by. In 1996, Krakouer was convicted and imprisoned for 16 years for his part in a drug-trafficking scheme transporting amphetamines from Melbourne to Perth. Having served nine years of his sentence, he was released on work release in August 2004. He has also had restraining orders held against him due to his violent behaviour. See also List of Australian rules football families Notes References Gorman, Sean (2005); Brotherboys: the story of Jim and Phillip Krakouer; Allan & Unwin A good case for a Krakouer reunion – The Age, 20 May 2004 External links St Kilda Football Club players North Melbourne Football Club players Australian people of Polish descent Syd Barker Medal winners Australian drug traffickers Western Australian State of Origin players 1958