In the lead-up to next Tuesday’s rookie draft, Tony Greenberg reflects on the league football journey of Jake King, from Richmond’s rookie list to a pivotal role in the Tigers’ senior line-up.

Jake King is one of the success stories of the AFL’s rookie draft...

King served his football apprenticeship with North Heidelberg in the Diamond Valley league, before joining Richmond’s VFL affiliate, Coburg, in 2006.

He made an immediate impression in the Coburg side due to his toughness, determination, aggression, and ball-winning ability.

In that ’06 debut season of VFL football, King was the equal winner of Coburg’s best and fairest award - an achievement made all the more meritorious because of his off-field situation at the time.

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King was working as a labourer on building sites from early in the morning, until downing tools and heading off to Coburg training late afternoons.

So exhausted was he from his daily work regime that he’d sometimes fall asleep on the benches in the Coburg rooms, and have to be woken to get out on the training track.

It clearly didn’t affect his football, however...

Richmond had followed his progress closely throughout the season, and liked what it saw. The Tigers had two picks in that year’s rookie draft and with their first they selected Lake Bolac  teenager Tas Clingan.  With their second (No. 24 overall), they chose the mature-age King.

On the eve of the 2007 season, King was elevated to the senior playing list at Tigerland, when newcomer Carl Peterson was placed on the long-term injury list, while recovering from ostietis pubis.

King made his senior league debut for Richmond in the Round 4, MCG Friday night clash with the Western Bulldogs, aged 23 years, 25 days.  The Tigers’ other debutant that evening was South Australian teenager Shane Edwards.

It was a solid first-up effort by King, who had a dozen disposals and took six marks in his role as a small defender, as Richmond suffered a 32-point loss.

King, with his pace, poise, fierce desire and bravery in the back half, standout features, retained his place in the Tiger team for the remainder of the season.

He continued to impress during 2008, but the following year he managed only eight senior games, as coach Terry Wallace departed the Club mid-season and Jade Rawlings took over in a caretaker coaching capacity.

But Damien Hardwick’s arrival as Richmond’s coach, at the end of the 2009 season, ultimately revived King’s league career.

After a slow start to 2010, King re-established himself as a senior regular with the Tigers and then, three-quarters of the way through the season, Hardwick threw him the challenge of becoming the team’s permanent defensive forward.

In inimitable style, King embraced his assignment with great gusto.

The small defender-turned-forward kicked 11 goals in the last five rounds that season to finish fifth on the Club’s goalkicking table for the year.  He also managed to take the second-most marks inside the forward-50 area by a Tiger player that season, to further underline how well he’d adapted to his new role.

Since then, King has gone from strength to strength as a forward, although injuries sorely hampered his 2012 season.

He scored 25 goals in season 2011 in 19 games, and 10 goals in 12 games this year.

The feisty, little plumber from North Heidelberg is now regarded as something of a barometer in the Richmond side, as well as a popular cult figure.

When he’s up and about, the Tigers are a much better unit, and harder for the opposition to counter.