Banned King says he's not a thug Bruce Matthews
From: Herald Sun
June 23, 2011RICHMOND'S reinvented forward Jake King told an AFL investigator this week how he was trying to repair his image.
King said in an interview he did not want to be regarded in football circles as a "thug".
A transcript of King's answers to questions from AFL investigations officer Graeme McDonald was tabled at the AFL Tribunal when the Tiger failed with a challenge to a one-match suspension.
The jury rejected King's assertion that his strike to Brisbane Lions defender Ash McGrath was negligent rather than reckless conduct.
Had the downgrade been successful, the lesser demerit points tally would have let him escape with a reprimand.
King, the Tigers' fourth leading goalkicker this season behind Jack Riewoldt, Tyrone Vickery and Dustin Martin, will miss Saturday's game against Melbourne at the MCG.
The 27-year-old, who moved from defence this season, told McDonald on Monday he had not struck McGrath when the pair grappled before the opening bounce at the Gabba on Saturday night.
"It was more a power standover thing because they (Lions defenders) were being aggressive," King said.
Denying he threw a punch, King said: "I've moved away from that. I'm trying to play good football. I've stuffed up in the past. I don't want to be known as a thug."
McGrath told McDonald he suffered a cut lip from the pair grabbing each other's jumpers.
"He's just one of those players who gets under your skin," McGrath said.
"I just wanted to show him who was boss."
King's defence advocate, Michael Toovey, QC, was allowed to call McGrath to give evidence at the hearing.
McGrath said by phone from Brisbane he assumed from the video that a punch had caused his cut lip.
Asked by AFL counsel Andrew Tinney, SC, to identify the point of contact, McGrath said: "When you see me react, try to sling him to the ground."
A Lions medical report, requested by the AFL match review panel, said McGrath had a laceration, requiring two stitches, below the lower lip after a tooth pierced the skin.
McGrath told the hearing he had not been wearing a mouthguard.
King missed the opening game of the season while serving a one-game suspension for striking in Round 22 last year.
He must carry 84.35 demerit points for the next year and will have a 50 per cent points loading for any future offence.
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