Mark Robbo interviews Jake King after the match
MR: You look exhausted.
JK: I'm buggered. Me and Pratty clashed heads. It was a tough game. Everyone went into the game thriving on hard-ball gets and so did the Kangaroos and it showed during the game. The bodies were flying.
MR: Seven goals to 2.8 in the final quarter.
JK: Was it? The boys get around and do their goalkicking and when we get it in there we don't want to let it out. And if we kick goals it saves me chasing the ball out, doesn't it?
MR: Your 3, 2 and 1 today?
JK: Oh gee, um, I thought Dusty was pretty dangerous.
MR: Martin had 33 and kicked four goals.
JK: There you go, there's your three. The kid does well. We asked our midfielders to step up and kick a couple of goals and if they want to kick goals, let them.
MR: How many years have you been at the club now?
JK: This is my fifth year.
MR: Martin the best youngster you've seen?
JK: It's amazing. I look at him and Trent (Cotchin), thier work-rate, their ability to use the ball under pressure is just amazing. I like being in the forward line when they've got the ball because even when you're out of position they still hit you on the chest. So you've got to love them.
MR: Three goals for you, you looked like KB there, streaming into goal.
JK: I've got a bit more hair than KB (laughing). Yeah, it's good down there and if I can keep the pressure on and kick some goals it's a good thing. But I thought I didn't start that well. I got a kick up the butt, and I must say I kept fighting.
MR: What did the coach say to you?
JK: Just our pressure. We weren't equalising numbers down there and it was coming out, so at half-time we went with another mindset, not offensive, just defensive all the way and goals would come if you did the hard work.
MR: How much of a buzz is it to still walk into the rooms and sing the song?
JK: The boys are unlucky and don't hear it all that often as yet, but in the future we'll hear it a lot more. It's a great theme song and everyone knows it, even if they don't barrack for the Tigers.
MR: What's your contract status?
JK: Out at the end of the year. But I take it a week at a time. I reckon you're in charge of your own future so as long as you go out each week, put your head over the ball and do the hard things, it should look after itself. The boys - Craig Cameron and Dimma - have already said they like me around and they said keep working, the time will come and we'll talk then. I would love to get another couple of years.
MR: What does it mean to you to play for Richmond Football Club?
JK: It's an amazing thing. Mum was more happy because it got me off the street and out of trouble than anything. For me, it was a massive turning point and it started with a bloke named Andrew Collins who coached me at Coburg. He got me in the twos, then Greg Miller approached me and got me to the club. Since then I haven't looked back. I absolutely love it.
MR: You feel you're the cult hero?
JK: I don't think so, I think people just love picking on me to tell you the truth. They say I'm short, but we've got three boys are the club shorter than me. Robbie (Nahas) is shorter than me, a fair bit actually, then there's Robbie Hicks and Axel (Nathan Foley) reckons he's got me, but Axel is shorter than me. I don't mind it when they bag the crap out of me.
MR: You've been in and out for a while, do you now feel a part of the senior team?
JK: My downfall was I was doing some stupid things, getting suspended, and Damien turned around and said, if that's the case you can play at Coburg. He put it on me, the boys did too, to find the line. Be aggressive but find the line because it's not doing any good me on the sidelines.
MR: Do you remember watching Hardwick play footy?
JK: Yeah, I do actually. A lot of people say Damien and myself have a fair bit in common and that's probably why we get along so well.
See:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tackle bottom of the page
