A big football story is told

by LES EVERETT

WITH Brotherboys: The story of Jim and Phillip Krakouer, writer Sean Gorman has written one of the very best books on Australian rules football.

But it's also a much bigger story.

Sean Gorman author of Brotherboys: The story of Jim and Phillip Krakouer. Photo by Les Everett

It tells part of the life tale of Gorman, a mid-thirties whitefella whose life intersected with that of the Krakouer family in Mt Barker for a brief time; and it tells of another history of WA, one that runs parallel to the European story we know pretty well with its significant dates like 1616 and 1829.

For Gorman the serious part of this story began when, for reasons he can't really explain, he enrolled in an Indigenous studies course at Murdoch University. The story of the football playing Krakouer brothers was the project he undertook for his PhD.

When he spoke to the Rooster this week Gorman said his aim was to use the Krakouer story to peel away at the onion of WA history.

"There are some good programs now in universities and some good primary and high schools and I wanted to develop on that and use the Krakouers as an interrogation of history, politics and culture," he said.

This football story is one with many layers of complexity. With the volatile, infamous Jim and the easy-going laid-back Phillip there are, Gorman believes, Biblical elements akin to the story of Cain and Abel. The writer could also see Shakespearian traditions with Jim and his run-ins with the law and money problems.

And behind all this was a strong, loving, supportive family living at times in impoverished conditions.

The Krakouer story must always be viewed through the prism of football and the impact of Jim and Phillip first at North Mt Barker then Claremont and finally in the VFL at North Melbourne was enormous.

After playing key roles in Claremont's 1981 premiership team the pair headed to Victoria. The VFL had seen influential WA Aboriginal players before - Graham Farmer, Syd Jackson and Barry Cable - but this was something different.

"They busted down the walls for Indigenous footballers," Gorman said, "they were a unit within a team, they complemented one-another.

"Jim was intense and would not put up with any crap, Phillip would work into space and they both had great skills."

As the elder boy Jim had what Gorman describes as a "pathological desire" to protect his siblings, family and identity. If you chose to vilify him retribution would be swift and brutal.

During his time in the VFL Jim spent 22 weeks - a full season - on the sidelines under suspension.

"Jim wasn't protected by the racial vilification laws that are now in place," Gorman said, "he was on his own and he knew only one way to negotiate."

Gorman believes Jim's attitude of living for the moment and not thinking of the consequences was what got him into trouble both on and off the football field.

The interviews with Jim for Brotherboy were conducted in various WA prisons where the elder brother was serving a long sentence for a drug offence.

"Both Jim and Phil let me know who they wanted me to talk to and Jim was always keen to hear updates on what people had said," Gorman said. Jim was particularly upset when he heard one former team mate was reluctant to speak about their playing days. Gorman believes Jim is redeemable as a person and his current work as a mentor with the AFL will help that process. "When you sit and talk with him you realise there's a vulnerable person inside Jim Krakouer and that vulnerability has manifest itself in volatility.

"What's interesting about the football careers of Jim and Phillip is that they persisted for as long as they did. There must have been so many times they could've given it away and gone home to Mt Barker. Racial abuse could have driven them away and they would have been lost to the game as I'm sure many others have been. Racism is such an irrational thing and it cuts deep."

Gorman believes Brotherboys can be read in a number of ways. "It's a hopeful story and also a cautionary tale that taps into the grand narrative of Indigenous history." He also hopes it shows something of the importance of Australian rules football to those who are touched by it.

"It's an institution for many people at all levels," Gorman said, "the footy is something people can talk about, you can give the boss stick if his team loses. It allows for dialogue and gives us a greater understanding of what we can do.

"In my own case I love the Fremantle Football Club and I'll keep persisting even when things are going wrong."

Brotherboys: The Story of Jim and Phillip Krakouer by Sean Gorman is published by Allen & Unwin.

From the Fremantle Rooster.

12 May 2005

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