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Jake King's selection for International Rules a reward for years of hard work by: Glenn McFarlane
From: Sunday Herald Sun
October 23, 2011 SIX years ago Jake King was playing for North Heidelberg in the rough and tumble of the Northern Football League.
In five days, the hard-working, hard-nosed Richmond forward will play for his country.
It's a nice reward for what King has achieved in that time, first in getting a chance to play in the AFL, and then grasping on for dear life with a determination and commitment to the team that he carries each time he takes the field.
"I was just talking to my brother and my stepdad about it and they were saying that it wasn't long ago I was playing local footy and now all of a sudden I will be representing my country," King said.
"To be selected for Australia, it means so much considering where I have come from. I never expected to get this far or achieve what I have."
Coming off his best season, King was surprised and elated to receive the call-up to play in the International Rules series against Ireland, starting at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Add in the fact he has a new two-year deal with the Tigers, and things could hardly be better for the 27-year-old.
But don't expect him to rest on his laurels. He knows how hard he has to work to keep his AFL dream alive, and he is also being driven by the desire to help Richmond reach the finals, and one day challenge for the flag.
"I am just one of those players who thinks, 'If I don't get a kick this week, I won't play', hence the reason that I play on the edge," King said.
"I believe I need to give it 100 per cent and do all the extra team things, and as long as I do that, I will get a game. If I stop doing that, I will be on my way out."
King knows he plays his best football on the edge. But he said Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and his long-time mentor, former North Melbourne star Glenn Archer, have offered plenty of advice on how to straddle the line but not cross it.
"Damien and I have a really good understanding," King said. "If I screw up, he is the first to tell me. He will try to tweak a lot of things for me, instead of trying to change it.
"If you change, you go away from your natural game, and I think he just wants me to play with some flair, but to not cross the line.
"There is a fine line, and I've been lucky enough that 'Arch' has mentored me ever since I got into the AFL. He played with spark and flair and he has taught me a trick or two about trying to control it."
King was controversially suspended for a sling tackle on Adelaide's Andy Otten in Round 23 this year, being cited only after the normal AFL cut-off point following information from the Crows.
It cost King "a sizeable amount" of money because he had a 20-game clause in his contract, and the fact he missed the Tigers' Round 24 game meant his season amounted to 19 games.
King was "pretty s-----" about it, but it had more to do with the fact he will also miss Round 1 next year.
"I wouldn't do it, and I am pretty sure Richmond wouldn't do it (dob an opposition player in)," he said.
"But I'm not the sort of person to hold a grudge.
"It wasn't about the money. But I am much more disappointed in the fact I won't be playing in Round 1 next year, as it feels like I have let Damien Hardwick and the team down.
"I didn't actually realise about the money until about a week after it happened. I remember thinking about it, and then joking to Damien and Craig Cameron (Richmond football manager) they might have dobbed me in to save some money."
As for playing for Australia, King can't wait, starting with today's first meeting of the team. He has always been a fan of the series, and recalls two of the famous moments.
"One of them was Crawf (Shane Crawford) standing on the goalpost celebrating after the Aussies had won, and the other was Chrissy Johnson going berserk a few years ago," he said.
"I think it shows just what it means to the boys to play for Australia, and I can't wait to experience it."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jake-kings-selection-for-international-rules-a-reward-for-years-of-hard-work/story-e6frf9jf-1226173904514
