Draw is no consolation: King
12:35 PM Sun 3 June, 2007
By Tom Nightingale
for richmondfc.com.au
RICHMOND midfielder Jake King says the draw with Brisbane on Saturday night feels just as bad as a loss.
“It’s not four points. It’s still a loss,” King told richmondfc.com.au after the game.
King said that his own performance of 20 disposals in the midfield was little consolation. “I’d give back every kick I had just to get the boys over the line and have a win,” he said.
As Richmond tried to score several times in a thrilling finish, King said the siren caught him by surprise.
“I honestly thought there was a few minutes left on the clock, but out of nowhere the siren blew and the heart just tore. We were starting to move the ball really well,” he said.
“The feeling in there, it’s pretty bad, but we’re still going to go in there next week expecting to win the game.
“We’ll go with the same attitude, and hopefully the boys play the game plan for the four quarters. If we do that, we will win, there’s no question about that,” King said.
With his shoulder heavily iced after the game, King said he had copped a knock in the first quarter. He said it was nothing unusual to play through the pain.
“Where I come from, North Heidelberg, it’s mind over matter – if you get a knock, you get up again,” King said. “They don’t let you be a little sook coming out of there.”
“I’ve worked pretty hard to get here, and it’s starting to pay off. The group is starting to accept me and I’m starting to feel like I belong. But without a win on the board, it’s still meaningless. You don’t play to get a kick, you play to win,” he said.
Being a first-year player meant he was still getting used to the pace of AFL, King said.
“In local footy, if you stuff up, nothing can come of it. In AFL, as soon as you stuff something up, that’s it. It’s a turnover, goals can come of it. Everything plays in the back of your mind. It’s so quick, there’s no room for error,” King said.
The Tigers play Fremantle at Subiaco in round 11.
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