Bitterness to spur on former Cat

BITTER and disappointed were words a former Geelong star has used to describe how he felt at being “moved on” from his former club.
Now veteran Steven King, integral to St Kilda’s ruck stocks, is seeking redemption to prove a point on Saturday.
A Cats captain from 2003 until 2006, King was discarded the next year and traded along with Charlie Gardiner for the Saints’ last draft pick, which Geelong effectively passed on.
“At the time I was probably a little bit disappointed,” King this week told OneHD’s One Week at a Time.
“I captained the club and had been there 10 to 12 years.
“Over that summer I was a bit bitter and disappointed but you soon move on and use that as a bit of a spur to prove some people wrong.”
King had been controversially recalled back into the Cats’ 2007 AFL grand final side at the expense of Mark Blake despite playing five games for the season.
The selection dilemma sparked a stand-off including threats then-22-year-old Blake would walk out on the club.
King said Geelong left him with little choice after the premiership.
“I was either going to retire or move on,” he said.
“I was 28 years old at the time and I personally thought I could keep contributing to a good side.
“Unfortunately, I got shown the door at Geelong but I was fortunate enough that St Kilda was probably lacking in the big man department, so I just wanted to prove to myself I could continue playing.”
Considered a spent force at Kardinia Park, a dominant display from King at the centre bounces could prove the difference in this weekend’s crucial midfield battles.
King and Michael Gardiner, both 30, combined for 50 hit-outs in the preliminary final against the Bulldogs’ 23 to give the Saints a decisive edge in centre clearances.
“I’ve played about 40 games now at St Kilda and throughout the whole year I’ve been a constant apart from a few (games).
“I really feel like I deserve my spot a lot more this time round.”
King said he was “still very close” with some of his old Cats mates but it would not stop him casting aside friendships for another AFL premiership.
“There are a few who still sledge me a little bit,” he said.