This year, 26 district sporting legends are being inducted to the hall of fame, honour roll and junior honour roll categories in the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame. The News is featuring stories on each of the inductees in the lead-up to the induction ceremony on August 6. Today News reporter Aydin Payne speaks to Steven King, who is being inducted into the hall of fame.
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From studying Year 11 at Shepparton High School one day, to rubbing shoulders with one of the greatest footballers to have ever played the next.
It sounds like a mind-boggling concept now in 2021, but in 1995, that was just part and parcel if you wanted to live out your childhood dream of playing AFL football.
And for Shepparton export Steven King, that was what had to be done for him to reach the highest level.
The start of the Geelong premiership player, St Kilda ruckman and AFL assistant coach's career was a whirlwind one to say the least.
“It all happened very quickly for me. I was drafted at 16 and moved down to Geelong through Year 11,” King, 42, said.
“You look back now and think ‘to do that at 16, is a bit surreal, that a kid at that age would go down there and do that'. But I suppose that was the way it was back then.”
After wowing recruiters with his skilful attributes as a ruckman, the former Shepparton junior was whisked away to hone his craft.
King traded out the school uniform for the signature blue and white hoops guernsey at Geelong Football Club.
Instead of studying for exams and kicking the footy during recess with his mates, he was soon studying game footage and training alongside Gary Ablett Sr.
“I remember going to the club and you saw guys like Ablett Sr, Garry Hocking . . . you had legends of Geelong playing at the time,” he said.
“It was fascinating to try and fit in school studies and AFL commitments at the same time, while living away from home. I think my footy got more attention than my studies did.
“Looking back now though I wouldn't change a thing; I was living out my childhood dream.
“I'm lucky, more than 20 years later, to still be involved and working in the industry — I'm pretty fortunate.”
King caught his first big break in his maiden year at the Cats.
The then 17-year-old tall timber, who had yet to run out against men, ended up playing a remarkable 13 games in 1996.
“It was certainly an eye-opener and something that was a bit surreal,” King said.
“I hadn't played any open age footy at that point, I had only played a few games of thirds at the Bears before I was asked to play at the Bushrangers, so it was a little bit daunting.
“I was pretty naïve, I didn't have too many expectations I think, it was just one big adventure really.
“I was really lucky to have some great people around me at that age and have some strong role models, like Hocking, at the club.”
For most teenagers in Shepparton sport plays an integral part of their upbringing.
Whether it be kicking the Sherrin around on Deakin Reserve, whacking sixes onto St Georges Rd from Victory Park or spending countless hours at McEwen Reserve, the sports-loving metropolis is a paradise for aspiring athletes.
And for King it was no different.
“Culturally, sport is really strong in the Goulburn Valley, from such a young age my life revolved around sport and it has since,” he said.
“Like every kid in Shepp I was fanatical about sport, whether it was cricket, footy or basketball.
“We were involved in footy for as long as I can remember, watching Dad play at Katandra and then Congupna.
“Dad spent a fair bit of time kicking the footy with me and my brothers. We were really lucky to have that support around us growing up.”
Those days in the backyard morphed into a 240-game playing career, the envy of his peers.
Before his 22nd birthday, the hulking 203cm tall was awarded the first of two Carji Greeves medals.
An All-Australian gong went his way in that same season, as he became the first Geelong player — since his mentor Hocking in 1996 — to earn selection in the prestigious squad.
King would add his second Geelong best-and-fairest award two years later in 2002, which was followed by captaining the club from 2003-2006.
But his proudest moment came on September 29, 2007, as Geelong crushed a 44-year premiership drought.
“The opportunity to captain the club and to be a premiership player are both something I am really thankful for and fortunate to be a part of,” King said.
“Just being a member of that team that broke the premiership drought, it's something I look back on now with a lot of fond memories.
“You belong to that group of people forever and that's why you play footy (for that success).”
However, all good things must come to an end.
“A week later I got the tap on the shoulder that maybe my time was up, I think I knew deep down that I had a few years of footy left,” he said.
“I was lucky enough St Kilda had some interest. It was one of the hardest things I did (to leave Geelong), but also one of the best things too.
“It was a great experience and helped shaped my coaching career.”
King's time at the Saints is highlighted by what many pundits remember as an extraordinary game of football.
The 2009 grand final between King's Saints and his former club Geelong, which would go on to win by 12 points.
King recalls that day as the most difficult of his career.
“It was quite hard because some of your best mates were on the opposition side,” he said.
“For them in 2009, they consider it to be the best day of their life, but it was one of the hardest days for me.
“It was a really tough pill to swallow.
“But that experience makes you a bit more grateful and aware of how hard footy can be sometimes.”
A final playing year followed the heartache of 2009, before King then replaced his playing boots for the magnet board.
A role he has loved and held ever since.
“The older I got, the more I enjoyed passing on stuff that I had been taught,” the current assistant coach at Western Bulldogs said.
“Coaching a group of young men, sharing your knowledge, is the next best thing to being out there and playing.
“It's demanding, but really fulfilling to see others get the most out of themselves and achieve what they dream of when they start their careers.
“This is my 10th year there (Western Bulldogs). I've experienced a lot at that club; from being at ground zero with the playing list to seeing the rebirth of the next gen coming through.
“The fortunate experience of coaching alongside Bevo (Luke Beveridge) and coaching some really talented players who are now hitting their straps. It's been a fantastic opportunity and a really enjoyable one as well.”
The most satisfying moment in King's decade at the Kennel came during the magical year of 2016.
After finishing seventh on the ladder, the Bulldogs made an unbelievable September run to win the premiership — ending an agonising 62-year drought.
“That was huge. It was pretty similar to us at Geelong in terms of premiership droughts,” he said.
“It was an amazing journey, the power and spirit of that group . . . it was remarkable and an amazing memory for me.
“I think I actually enjoyed that one more than playing in one. To have that understanding of the time and effort that goes in behind the scenes and then to achieve the goal was a really fulfilling experience.”
King's extensive career and achievements in the AFL world has landed him a monumental accolade in his hometown.
The football mentor will be inducted into the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame next month.
King thanked the efforts of his former teachers, while he expressed his gratitude to the amazing contribution from his parents, Ashleigh and Leonie.
“Like everyone else, it's more recognition for the people who helped me along the journey,” he said.
“All the junior coaches back in Shepparton and especially my parents. I'm really grateful for the commitment and support in helping me achieve my goals. I owe everything to my parents for helping me get to where I am today.
“This is more recognition for them than it is for myself.
“And hopefully it can continue to inspire others to believe in their dreams and work towards something they really want to achieve.”
Sports Editor