In inimitable style, spirited small forward Jake King has shrugged off a spate of post-season operations, and will line up for Richmond in Saturday’s second round of the AFL’s pre-season series, against Essendon at Wangaratta.

King, who underwent surgery on a knee, a foot, a thumb and an adductor muscle, while letting a broken wrist and fractured cheekbone heal naturally, is raring to go – well ahead of schedule.

“Yeah, it’s been a long six months with pre-season, so it’s just good to be back out there and, hopefully, play a half on Saturday,” he said.

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“I got told that if I could get back for Round 1, it was a good effort. 

“We’ve got really good medicos down here and they’ve looked after me really well. The boys have done their job and I’ve stuck to their plans and goals and been lucky enough to come back a couple of weeks early.”

King is extremely keen to toss aside the running shoes in exchange for football boots after a long, contact-free pre-season . . .

 “Pretty much there was no contact at training because I had a fair few operations,” he said.

 “A majority of it was just running laps and this oval that we’ve got is a bit bigger than the old Punt Road, so I had to do a bit more running. 

“I’m as fit as can be, but the match fitness is what you’re after.  So, it’s actually good to get back a few weeks early.

“I can play a couple of games before Round 1 and, hopefully, get a bit fitter throughout those games.”