King looking for Demons debut

Hailing from Wagga Wagga, in southern New South Wales, King played for the Murray Bushrangers at TAC Cup level, and stood out at the national championships for the NSW/ACT Rams.

Taken by Melbourne at pick No. 19 of the 2014 AFL Rookie Draft, King began the season as the Dees’ sixth-string tall, behind the likes of retired star, Mitch Clark, and injured big men Max Gawn, Jesse Hogan and Jack Fitzpatrick.

King has been looking down the barrel of an AFL debut for past few weeks, however the return of Chris Dawes and club veteran Mark Jamar from injury, has kept the 18 year-old out of the Demons side.

For the Melbourne Demons, their on- and off-field woes have been well documented in football circles over the past three years.

However, Season 2014 has begun in a more positive manner. With the introduction of premiership winning coach Paul Roos, the Dees have looked more capable as a side in the first six rounds of the competition.

Roos’ praise of King has been positive, yet measured.

“He’s quite athletic, he’s like a lot of those raw sort of New South Wales athletes that I’ve seen a lot of, but he’s certainly got some AFL talent,” said Roos.

“We might even throw him down forward to see what he can do down there, but I think it will be exciting for him.”

King showed undoubted ability down forward in 2013 for the NSW/ACT Rams.

His ability to not only ruck, but also swing forward and influence the scoreboard is an asset that only a select few throughout the AFL possess.

His ability to take a strong pack mark, as well as his presence, and knowledge of the goals down forward, are assets to look for in the young forward in Season 2014 and beyond.