NATHAN Krakouer has been released from his Gold Coast contract for personal reasons and will return to his home in Western Australia.
After working closely with Krakouer's manager, the AFL Players' Association, and a range of professionals, the Suns have decided to allow Krakouer to return to Perth.
He is the second Sun in the space of two weeks to be released for personal reasons, after Rex Liddy was let go late in November.
After coming to the Suns from Port Adelaide, Krakouer, 23, played 13 games in Gold Coast's inaugural season but said he had fallen out of love with the game.
"It was a real tough decision," Krakouer said.
"I've been thinking about it for a very long time, it wasn't easy, but I'm happy with the decision I've made.
"A lot of personal stuff has built up and I just want to get back to Western Australia and get myself right.
"I feel like the love's not there for the footy to do that hard work that you need to do to play AFL level, and I didn't want to drag the club around and drag myself around for the next two years trying to find every motivation in my body to get the hard work in.
"I just want to step away, get home and sort out my personal stuff and get myself right."
Krakouer came back from Gold Coast's off-season and was given an extra two weeks of leave while the rest of the team headed to the United States for altitude training, but it failed to solve his problems.
Krakouer has worked with the AFLPA and a psychologist in Perth.
He is a contracted Gold Coast player for 2012 and said returning to the footy field in any capacity was the furthest thing from his mind at the moment.
"My heart isn't in the game," he said.
"I've got a lot of personal stuff I need to deal with first and once I deal with that I'll take it from there but at the moment I just want to deal with all the personal stuff."
Gold Coast's general manager of football operations Marcus Ashcroft said Krakouer came to the club a month ago looking for a release.
"Through the club, the AFLPA, through his manager and other experts off field, we've really tried to make it work for Nathan, but it's his decision and we respect that," Ashcroft said.
"It's pretty hard with footy these days to play elite sport if you haven't got your heart in it.
"We'll continue to help Nathan and his wellbeing is the number one priority at this point in time."
Krakouer said telling his teammates on Monday morning was difficult, but wished them well in the future.
"I have had great support from the club and I want to thank my teammates for understanding my decision, it has been a tough period for me and I believe my decision to leave is the right one," he said.
Michael Whiting covers Gold Coast news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
