Geelong coach Steven King has spoken for the first time since he worryingly suffered a ‘medical episode’ during a training session on the eve of the Cats’ preliminary final against Brisbane.
The 45-year-old was attended to by paramedics and medical staff before being rushed to Epworth Hospital following the incident, which took place at the GMHBA Stadium at 11am on Friday, September 20.
King was given the all-clear by medical professionals after spending the night in hospital.
Cats players were taken indoors following the incident, while Chris Scott stated that it was not a life-threatening situation.
King, who had also been heavily touted to succeed Adam Simpson as the West Coast Eagles’ next permanent coach, has since spoken out on the incident, claiming that he was ‘a bit embarrassed’ before stating that being rushed to hospital was ‘scary’.
‘I’m a little bit embarrassed, to be honest. I’ve just cooked myself in the altitude room, did a Wattbike with [Geelong CEO] Steve Hocking in the morning at 4000m above sea level, skipped breakfast, had a long black … and off minimal sleep after flying in from Perth the night before, I’ve just cooked myself,’ King explained to AFL Trade Radio.
Geelong coach Steven King has has spoken for the first time since he worryingly suffered a ‘medical episode’
King said that he was ‘a little embarrassed by the episode’ adding that it was ‘scary’ being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance
‘[I was] Rushed off to hospital, it was probably a bit more scary than what it was. All the tests have come back fine.
‘I’ve just got to realise now that I’m closer to 50 than 40 and have to be a bit more sensible with the way I train and not smash myself every day.’
He added: ‘I think in the altitude room you can starve yourself of a bit of oxygen … my sleep the week before leading up to the West Coast stuff was minimal at best. The one thing I don’t compromise on most days is training, probably just got to be a bit smarter.’
King subsequently was not in attendance at the MCG for the preliminary final, admitting that he had watched the game from his sofa with ‘Champion Data up on his computer’ and exchanged texts with Andrew Mackie during the match.
‘I declared myself fit to go, but Geelong being a quality organisation, they made sure of my welfare first and foremost,’ he said.
‘(Watching from home) was the hardest two hours of the year, to be honest.’
The Cats would miss out on securing a berth in the showpiece event by a matter of 10 points, with Lions duo Brendan Ah Chee and Cam Rayner kicking two goals in the final five minutes of the contest.
King, meanwhile, was included as one of the final three coaches on the shortlist for the West Coast job, alongside Hayden Skipworth and Andrew McQualter.
The latter was named the Eagles’ next permanent coach on Monday, and King took a moment to lump praise on the McQualter – before insisting that he wants to become a senior coach one day down the line.
Cats players were taken indoors following the incident, while Chris Scott (centre) stated that it was not a life-threatening situation
King subsequently was not in attendance at the MCG for the preliminary final, admitting that he had watched the game from his sofa with ‘Champion Data up on his computer’
‘I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Andrew. He’s a good mate of mine, fantastic appointment from West Coast,’ King said.
‘To be honest, I was thrilled to be invited to apply for the process. It was the first time I’ve actually put myself out there in that situation, and I’ve learnt a lot about myself.
‘From that point of view, it’s been a really worthwhile process for me, and I know I’ll be a better coach from this experience.
‘I wouldn’t change a thing the way I did, obviously, they saw Andrew as a better fit and I’m sure that he’ll do a great job there.
“’I’m not in any rush (to leave Geelong). I think the right opportunity will present itself down the track.’