Strong hands Magee
17 Mar 2006, 12:27
Good read... :thumbsu:
AFL's King feeling good about footy
March 17, 2006 - 1:15PM
At long last, Geelong AFL captain Steven King is feeling excited about playing football, not worried about his body.
And he is equally thrilled that fellow Cats' ruckman Brad Ottens is also approaching full fitness, in what could finally provide the double act the club has been waiting for.
Although King managed to play 18 of Geelong's 24 games last season, he was rarely at his best, as he endured shoulder, back, achilles, finger and hamstring problems.
But, after off-season surgery and being rested through the pre-season competition, the 27-year-old says he feels like a new man.
"It has been quite a while since I've gone into a game feeling excited about playing the game, not worrying about is this going to hold up or is that going to hold up?" King said.
"I'm really excited going into the year knowing I'm back near full fitness.
"I'm not going to be at my best for a while, but as I get into the season, midway through the season I'll still be out there playing good footy and that's a goal of mine.
He said last season was gruelling.
"I sort of struggled through and got through but the body just fell apart on me throughout the year," he said.
"I was probably going into the season underdone and I thought the body would mend during the season and it just got worse and worse.
King will play his first match of the season this weekend, a half with Geelong's reserves.
Ottens' story was somewhat similar in his first year with the Cats, after moving from Richmond, with the ruckman-forward restricted to 15 matches by repeated groin strains.
With Ottens having had an off-season groin injury, King was relishing the prospect of the Cats' twin towers taking to the field together in full fitness.
"Getting Brad to the club was an exciting time for me and the club, unfortunately we didn't really get a chance to work together too much for the year," he said.
"Big Brad had a hit-out last week and he'll probably play this week as well.
"He's looking fit again now and feeling better.
"So if the two of us can work in tandem together, which we plan to, it's going to take us another step this year for sure."
After making a semi-final last season and a preliminary final in 2004, King said the Cats' premiership window was now well and truly open.
"It's time for the players to really step up now as a group collectively and try to create a bit of history for ourselves."
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/AFLs-King-feeling-good-about-footy/2006/03/17/1142098646604.html
AFL's King feeling good about footy
March 17, 2006 - 1:15PM
At long last, Geelong AFL captain Steven King is feeling excited about playing football, not worried about his body.
And he is equally thrilled that fellow Cats' ruckman Brad Ottens is also approaching full fitness, in what could finally provide the double act the club has been waiting for.
Although King managed to play 18 of Geelong's 24 games last season, he was rarely at his best, as he endured shoulder, back, achilles, finger and hamstring problems.
But, after off-season surgery and being rested through the pre-season competition, the 27-year-old says he feels like a new man.
"It has been quite a while since I've gone into a game feeling excited about playing the game, not worrying about is this going to hold up or is that going to hold up?" King said.
"I'm really excited going into the year knowing I'm back near full fitness.
"I'm not going to be at my best for a while, but as I get into the season, midway through the season I'll still be out there playing good footy and that's a goal of mine.
He said last season was gruelling.
"I sort of struggled through and got through but the body just fell apart on me throughout the year," he said.
"I was probably going into the season underdone and I thought the body would mend during the season and it just got worse and worse.
King will play his first match of the season this weekend, a half with Geelong's reserves.
Ottens' story was somewhat similar in his first year with the Cats, after moving from Richmond, with the ruckman-forward restricted to 15 matches by repeated groin strains.
With Ottens having had an off-season groin injury, King was relishing the prospect of the Cats' twin towers taking to the field together in full fitness.
"Getting Brad to the club was an exciting time for me and the club, unfortunately we didn't really get a chance to work together too much for the year," he said.
"Big Brad had a hit-out last week and he'll probably play this week as well.
"He's looking fit again now and feeling better.
"So if the two of us can work in tandem together, which we plan to, it's going to take us another step this year for sure."
After making a semi-final last season and a preliminary final in 2004, King said the Cats' premiership window was now well and truly open.
"It's time for the players to really step up now as a group collectively and try to create a bit of history for ourselves."
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/AFLs-King-feeling-good-about-footy/2006/03/17/1142098646604.html