Geelong assistant coach Steven King has collapsed after suffering a mysterious medical episode during the Cats’ Friday training session.
King was mid-conversation with star forward Jeremy Cameron at GMHBA Stadium when the incident occurred, with the 45-year old quickly taken to the Epworth Geelong Hospital.
The Cats have since confirmed the assistant coach and former club captain will be okay, though he will remain under observation ahead of their preliminary final clash with Brisbane on Saturday afternoon, with King all but certain to not attend.
The medical episode saw training delayed for 20 minutes and players ushered from the field, with Cameron noticeably shaken.
Speaking to media, Cats coach Chris Scott said the club would ‘prioritise his health’.
“We’re just trying to stay calm and priortise the right things which for us are to ensure we do everything we can to support Steven,” Scott said.
“I don’t want to say too much that might not be accurate. I think it’s reasonable at the moment, even before we’ve had the chance to speak to Steven directly, for us to prioritise his health.
“It would be irresponsible for us to even consider him to be around over the next 24 hours or so. In these situations it does reinforce that there is the right thing that supersedes football.”
Scott expects King, should he continue to recover, to be ‘disappointed’ with the Cats’ cautious approach regarding him heading into their do-or-die final.
“I suspect if he is feeling good, he will be disappointed to hear that news,” Scott said of him missing the Cats’ preliminary funal.
“Even if he isn’t feeling great, he’ll be disappointed because he is a competitor. Even at this pointy end of the season, it reinforces to us what the right thing is over lesser priorities.”
King flew back to Melbourne on Thursday night after a trip to Perth to be interviewed for the vacant West Coast coaching position, where he is a strong contender to take the reins in 2025.
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