Jake King keen to play onDamian Barrett
afl.com.au
July 4, 2014 JAKE King has indicated his desire to play on for a ninth AFL season next year after being ruled out for the remainder of 2014.
King's manager and mentor, former North Melbourne champion Glenn Archer, said King would push to earn a new contract for 2015.
The 30-year-old has failed to play a game since round three this season, fighting an ongoing toe injury.
"He's got a foot issue, he's had it all year, he's had it for a while now," Archer told The Footy Show.
"He won't play for the rest of the year. I think it will be a stepping stone approach next year, hopefully (he will) do a pre-Christmas (training block), see how it goes, into a pre-season, see how it goes and then hopefully get another year out.
"Jake's a realist, he knows unless he can get it right that will be the end.
"In his mind, he thinks he can give another year but it's going to be up to his body.
"I would imagine that would be his last year."
Archer shared his frustration at the fascination of King's friendship with former bikie boss Toby Mitchell.
It was highlighted over the weekend after King ventured to Perth to visit young cancer sufferer Nate Anderson.
King surprised the five-year-old at his home before flying him to Melbourne to watch Richmond's win over St Kilda and meet Tigers players post-match.
"The thing that really hit home was the article that was written on the weekend," Archer said.
"He did a magnificent thing, he and the Richmond Football Club brought over a young boy, Nate, who's terminally ill and gave him a magnificent experience at the football.
"But again they write an article in the paper and they put a picture of Toby and Jake and actually have some controversial comments attached to the article. That's wrong.
"I know for a fact it's frustrated Jake.
"I feel that I've actually got to stand up and say something to the public because the misreporting is starting to do my head in as well.
"He's friends with Toby Mitchell. Jake is probably the most staunch and loyal person I've ever come across and I've met a lot of people over my time.
"He won't drop off a friendship because of people taking photos and putting it in the paper."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-03/king-keen-to-go-on
