Geelong Assistant Coach Steven King Hospitalised After Collapsing at Training

Geelong Cats‘ assistant coach Steven King was hospitalised following a collapse during a training session on Friday morning. This incident occurred just a day before the Australian Football League (AFL) preliminary final against the Brisbane Lions. Despite the collapse, club officials do not believe King’s condition is life-threatening.

Paramedics were called to Kardinia Park, Geelong’s home turf, where King fell ill while in discussion with players and fellow coaches. As he was transported to the hospital, he remained conscious. The club has stated that King is currently under medical observation.

The event led to a delay in the training and postponed a media conference with Geelong’s head coach, Chris Scott. Scott acknowledged the incident’s impact on the team, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing King’s health over the upcoming match.

Scott referred to King as a “workaholic” and suggested that his recent travel to Perth for a coaching interview might have contributed to his health episode. King is currently a contender for the West Coast Eagles‘ vacant head coach position. As such, King is not expected to participate in this weekend’s coaching activities.

“For us to prioritize his health, it would be irresponsible for us to have him around over the next 24 hours or so,” Scott stated. He further mentioned the need to act with caution, emphasizing that welfare overshadows all other priorities, even at this crucial stage of the AFL season.

Steven King, a former premiership player with the Cats in 2007, has been involved in coaching various AFL teams post his playing career. His health incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining balance and ensuring health is prioritized, especially in high-pressure environments like professional sports.