Tigers' King to need knee surgeryDale Miller
The West Australian
August 20, 2012Tough nut Jake King will need surgery on his left knee after coming to grips with the extinguishing of Richmond's faint finals hopes.
The 28-year-old pushed his body to the limits to get back quicker than expected in a bid to help the club's ailing 2012 campaign.
King missed just three games mid-season with a knee injury that was initially expected to sideline him for up to eight weeks.
His efforts amounted to nought though, with the loss to Fremantle ruling Richmond out of finals.
King revealed that both the posterior cruciate and medial ligaments in his knee were still damaged, with a minor reconstruction needed at the end of the season.
He said it was bittersweet to return early. The Tigers were unable to regain their momentum from the first half of the year.
"Our medicos are working with me every single day. I was doing two sessions a day with them. They were doing everything possible to get me up," King said.
"They've been outstanding - hats off to them. They were the ones that got my body to where it is.
"Every time it gets knocked back down they pick it back up.
"You work your rear end off to try and get back out there and you try your best for finals footy.
"It was thereabouts. I think today put the last nail in the coffin … but we've still got two games to go."
King copped three heavy blows during the physical scrap, including a nasty knock to the groin that left him doubled over.
He said it was extremely taxing for a team trying to bullock its way through Fremantle's defence.
"Their defensive work's really good," King said. "Their closing speed's one of the best that we've come up against, with their teasing distance out there."
Injuries to Tyrone Vickery, Nathan Foley and Dylan Grimes had cruelled Richmond's season, King said.
Getting more games into a young playing group and being able to play a consistent 22 next year were the keys to making finals for the first time since 2001.
The Tigers have winnable matches against Essendon and Port Adelaide to end their season with an improved 11-11 win-loss record.
Forward Jack Riewoldt said it was important to achieve that result.
"For this group to get to a level win-loss ratio, it'd be really big for us and our future," he said.
"It's something we can build on for next year."
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