FORMER Wodonga ruckman Mitch King's budding AFL career has been dealt a serious blow, after the 19-year old ruptured his ACL playing in the VFL last weekend.
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He was taken from the field on a stretcher during the first quarter of the Casey Scorpions’ match against Franktson on Saturday.
King, who was taken by Melbourne with pick 42 in last year's draft, will miss the rest of the season.
It's a heartbreaking development for King, who fought back after suffering the same injury in 2014.
He made his way into the Murray Bushrangers’ leadership group as a top age player last season, starring as the Bushies charged into the TAC Cup finals.
Former Bushrangers coach Darren Ogier, who is now an assistant with the Scorpions, said he feared the worst when King went down.
“We thought the worst from the start and unfortunately for Mitch that's the way it's played out,” he said.
“It's a real shame, he was just beginning to find his feet at this level.”
Ogier backed King to bounce back from his second bout of rehabilitation.
“Last time when he had a similar injury he came back bigger and stronger,” he said.
“He still needs to put on about 10 kilos to play his position, no doubt he'll come back in great shape.
“He'll be in the best of care with the Demons.
“They'll have him on the right track from day one surgery through to when he makes his return to the field next year.”
The former Bushies mentor said the season wouldn't be wasted for King.
“Mitch was drafted as much for his upside than anything else,” Ogier said.
“His character really stood out as well, he'll soldier on.
“It might take time to get his head around it, but he'll get there.”
Melbourne general manager of football operations Josh Mahoney told the Demons website King's previous injury wasn't a factor on the weekend.
“A player fell across his knee and in that situation, it’s likely any player would have suffered a similar injury, regardless of their history,” he said.
King had the support of Mahoney and also teammate Christian Petracca, who is pushing for senior selection after missing the majority of last season with the same injury.
“Mitch has a number of examples at our club of players who have missed their first 12 months through injury and have recovered well,” Mahoney said.
“Jesse Hogan and Petracca are two recent examples, while Max Gawn is another player to have made a strong recovery from knee injuries in his early years at the club.”
“Mitch has a positive outlook into what he can achieve this year.
“We’ll work on a program for his continued football education to sit along his rehabilitation.”
