TO say 2016 didn't pan out the way Mitch King envisaged it would be an understatement, to say the least.
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King had a career year with the Murray Bushrangers in 2015, coming back from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament to become one of the team's leaders.
It was enough to convince Melbourne to select him with pick 42, their third overall, in the 2015 AFL Draft.
But his first year with the Demons lasted less than one quarter, rupturing the ACL in his right knee playing for the Casey Scorpions in round one of the VFL this season.
No stranger to making his way back from this sort of injury, King was determined not to let this season go to waste.
With rehab experience and the help of the Melbourne medical team, King is set to start his pre-season early in a bid to be fit for round one 2017.
“I've tried to turn a negative into a positive and get something out of this year,” King said.
“I've watched a lot of footy, watched a lot of the other rucks in the league.
“I've spent a lot of time in the gym, I've put on a bit of weight, so there has definitely been a silver lining there.”
The emergence of bearded cult figure Max Gawn as one of the league's premier ruckman has also been a win for King.
The 19-year-old has also been taken under the wing of one of the league’s most renowned development coaches, former Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney.
“The club has been big on keeping up my footy education,” King said.
“I've gone to games with coaches, I've sat in on ruck meetings, I've been trying to absorb as much of it as I can.
“Max Gawn has been fantastic, he's been through a couple of knee injuries before so I've tried to work with him and Jake Spencer.
“I've watched a lot of footy with Brendan McCartney as well.
“There's so much more to the game than what I would have thought 12 months ago.”
“It's hard to just sit down and watch a game now, you pick up so much different stuff.”
King returned to Melbourne earlier this week ahead of an early start to pre-season.
The 200-centimetre big man will be joined by his fellow first-to-fourth year players for the official start of pre-season on November 17, but King won't take on a full training load until just after Christmas.
Throw in the additions of Hawthorn veteran Jordan Lewis and Essendon half-back Michael Hibberd, and King says the sky could be the limit for the Dees.
“Right now is a really exciting time for the club,” he said.
“Lewis and Hibberd will bring in a lot of experience and advice for us younger guys.”
King wasn't the only Murray Bushranger to be taken by the Demons in the 2015 draft, with Morrish medallist Clayton Oliver selected with pick four after a breakout season.