Honest, hard-working and respected by his teammates . . .
That’s what spirited Richmond small forward, Jake King, would like to see inscribed on his league football ‘tombstone’, when he hangs up his boots.
Mind you, that’s still a fair way off at the moment, with King this week signing a one-year contract extension at Tigerland, which further underlines the progression he’s made in his AFL career.
“I was meant to play one game – and that was at the best. Now, to get another contract and come closer to the 100th game (he’ll play his 98th against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night), it’s a little bit surreal . . . I still pinch myself,” he told SEN’s “Morning Glory”.
In typical style, however, the 29-year is taking nothing for granted at the game’s highest level with his beloved Tigers . . .
“For me, I still look at it as if to say, well, if I don’t get a kick, I don’t do my role, and I don’t perform as the coach is saying, then we’ve got plenty of boys at Tigerland that will actually take my spot quite comfortably,” King said.
“I still think that I can improve . . .”
The Jake King football story is a modern-day classic.
He has gone from suburban footballer with North Heidelberg in the Diamond Valley league, to VFL ranks at Coburg, while still working as a labourer on building sits from early in the morning until late afternoon, to Richmond’s rookie list, to the Tigers’ primary list, to regular member of the side, and now one of the playing group’s respected leaders.
“We have our leadership group, and I’m not part of that. But I get asked a lot of questions and if ever the leadership group needs help, or ‘Dimma’ (Damien Hardwick) and the other coaches, I do get approached a bit, and I’m more than happy to voice my opinion,” King said.
“I guess it’s because I try and be honest in most ways I can.
“You never want to say anything hurtful, but to be a better club and to have a successful team, pretty much you need to have these people challenging your teammates, and each other, every day, whether you’re at training or on game day.
“I get a fair bit of responsibility game day. I look after our forward line with regards to structures and making sure the boys are doing the right thing, and our game plan and game style is running the right way.
“So there’s a bit of responsibility, but it’s always a good thing to have.”
King, who has played 97 games, has kicked 16 goals in the first half of the 2013 season, further underlining his importance to the side in his role as a spirited small forward.
