Steven King (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Steven King is a former Australian rules football
er for Geelong
and St Kilda in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
in 1996, King is a gifted ruckman
. He won All-Australian selection and won the Carji Greeves Medal
in 2000 and again in 2002. He was captain of the club between 2003 and 2006. In 2005, King was hit by numerous injuries, which affected his form.
A moment of controversy occurred in King's career in the 2005 Elimination Final
, when he accidentally kicked Melbourne
's Jeff White
in the head. Both men were contesting a boundary throw in, and it was knocked to the ground. King was the man in front, and when the ball bounced up to head height, he took a mighty swing at it with his right foot. He missed the ball completely, but connected with White's face, giving him injuries which have been described as "equivalent to those of a car accident victim," requiring White to have several plates and screws inserted.
Media commentators and fans were largely divided about whether or not King should have faced the tribunal for kicking, historically the most heavily penalised infringement whether accidental or intentional. Eventually, the Match Review Panel decided that he had no case to answer, and he was free to play in the semi-final against Sydney the following week. Somewhat ironically, a hamstring injury in the third quarter of that game coincided with a Sydney comeback, and eventually victory.
King fell out of favour in 2007, playing only a handful of AFL
games and was dropped to the Victorian Football League
in favour of Brad Ottens
and Mark Blake. In Round 18, playing in the AFL when Ottens was rested, he took a mark over goal umpire Michael Hammond – an awkward half-speckie/half-collision which sent the umpire crashing to the ground; for the second time in his career, despite the AFL's generally strict application of the rule prohibiting contact with field umpires, King avoided tribunal action, with the Match Review Panel deeming that the goal umpire had contributed to the clash, due to the fact that he moved towards the ball as it began to fall.
King continued to perform strongly in the VFL, and played in the Cats' 2007 VFL premiership against Coburg on 23 September. Following weak finals performances by Mark Blake, King received a recall to the senior team for the AFL Grand Final, despite Blake having played more games during the season. King then participated in the Cats' 2007 AFL premiership win against Port Adelaide
on 29 September, giving him his second premiership medallion within seven days.
, to St Kilda for a sixth round selection in the 2007 national draft
(nominally number; not used).
winning side – St Kilda's third pre-season cup win.
King played 22 games in 2008 and carried St Kilda's ruck division with 408 hitouts.
home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the 2009 finals, winning the club’s third minor premiership.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final
after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. King played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and St Kilda in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Geelong
Debuting as a 17-year old with the Geelong CatsGeelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in 1996, King is a gifted ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
. He won All-Australian selection and won the Carji Greeves Medal
Carji Greeves Medal
The Carji Greeves Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for the Geelong Football Club for the season....
in 2000 and again in 2002. He was captain of the club between 2003 and 2006. In 2005, King was hit by numerous injuries, which affected his form.
A moment of controversy occurred in King's career in the 2005 Elimination Final
2005 AFL finals series
-The finals system:The system is a final eight system. This system is different to the McIntyre Final Eight System, which was previously used by the AFL, and is currently used by the National Rugby League....
, when he accidentally kicked Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
's Jeff White
Jeff White
Jeffrey Newman "Jeff" White is an Australian rules footballer who had a distinguished career in the Australian Football League spanning 14 years. He played most recently and notably for the Melbourne Football Club, following a move from the Fremantle Dockers at the end of 1997...
in the head. Both men were contesting a boundary throw in, and it was knocked to the ground. King was the man in front, and when the ball bounced up to head height, he took a mighty swing at it with his right foot. He missed the ball completely, but connected with White's face, giving him injuries which have been described as "equivalent to those of a car accident victim," requiring White to have several plates and screws inserted.
Media commentators and fans were largely divided about whether or not King should have faced the tribunal for kicking, historically the most heavily penalised infringement whether accidental or intentional. Eventually, the Match Review Panel decided that he had no case to answer, and he was free to play in the semi-final against Sydney the following week. Somewhat ironically, a hamstring injury in the third quarter of that game coincided with a Sydney comeback, and eventually victory.
King fell out of favour in 2007, playing only a handful of AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
games and was dropped to the Victorian Football League
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
in favour of Brad Ottens
Brad Ottens
Brad "Otto" Ottens is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club and Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Richmond: 1998–2004:...
and Mark Blake. In Round 18, playing in the AFL when Ottens was rested, he took a mark over goal umpire Michael Hammond – an awkward half-speckie/half-collision which sent the umpire crashing to the ground; for the second time in his career, despite the AFL's generally strict application of the rule prohibiting contact with field umpires, King avoided tribunal action, with the Match Review Panel deeming that the goal umpire had contributed to the clash, due to the fact that he moved towards the ball as it began to fall.
King continued to perform strongly in the VFL, and played in the Cats' 2007 VFL premiership against Coburg on 23 September. Following weak finals performances by Mark Blake, King received a recall to the senior team for the AFL Grand Final, despite Blake having played more games during the season. King then participated in the Cats' 2007 AFL premiership win against Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
on 29 September, giving him his second premiership medallion within seven days.
St Kilda
Following Mark Blake re-signing as the number two ruckman, King was offered a one year contract on reduced pay, which he declined. Lacking space in their salary cap, Geelong then asked King to retire, but eventually traded him, along with Charlie GardinerCharlie Gardiner (footballer)
Charles "Charlie" Gardiner is a former Australian rules footballer for Geelong and St Kilda in the Australian Football League.-Career:...
, to St Kilda for a sixth round selection in the 2007 national draft
2007 AFL Draft
The 2007 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2007/08 Australian Football League off-season. These were trade week, the National Draft, the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft.- Trades :...
(nominally number; not used).
2008 season
King played in St Kilda’s 2008 NAB Cup2008 NAB Cup
The 2008 NAB Cup was the Australian Football League pre-season competition played in its entirety before the Australian Football League's 2008 Premiership season began...
winning side – St Kilda's third pre-season cup win.
King played 22 games in 2008 and carried St Kilda's ruck division with 408 hitouts.
2009 season
King played in 16 of 22 matches in the 2009 AFL season2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the 2009 finals, winning the club’s third minor premiership.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final
2009 AFL Grand Final
The 2009 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the St Kilda Football Club and the Geelong Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 September 2009...
after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. King played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.
2010 season
On 16 September 2010, King announced his retirement. He played six games for the year, but was being kept out by emerging ruckman, Ben McEvoy. He has accepted a coaching role at St Kilda.Personal life
King married his longtime girlfriend and former Price Is Right model, Danielle Atkin, in October 2008. They have a son, Oscar William, born on 16 July 2009 and a daughter, Dahlia Janys, born on 2 August 2011.Statistics
- Statistics are correct as of September 2009 (10 April 2010)
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Goals | Behinds | Kicks | Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Disposals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Geelong | 1 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 81 | 38 | 55 | 136 |
| 1997 | Geelong | 1 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 202 | 94 | 91 | 293 |
| 1998 | Geelong | 1 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 89 | 60 | 47 | 136 |
| 1999 | Geelong | 1 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 134 | 63 | 60 | 194 |
| 2000 | Geelong | 1 | 23 | 12 | 10 | 252 | 82 | 120 | 372 |
| 2001 | Geelong | 1 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 161 | 76 | 81 | 242 |
| 2002 | Geelong | 1 | 22 | 14 | 9 | 237 | 100 | 135 | 372 |
| 2003 | Geelong | 1 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 95 | 49 | 80 | 175 |
| 2004 | Geelong | 1 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 126 | 55 | 67 | 193 |
| 2005 | Geelong | 1 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 140 | 69 | 85 | 225 |
| 2006 | Geelong | 1 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 116 | 67 | 97 | 213 |
| 2007 | Geelong | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 18 | 40 | 58 |
| 2008 | St. Kilda | 2 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 131 | 70 | 110 | 241 |
| 2009 | St. Kilda | 2 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 81 | 43 | 85 | 166 |
| Totals | 234 | 83 | 58 | 1868 | 886 | 1155 | 3023 | ||