By: Daniel Cencic
THE stage is set for the man affectionately known as ‘Zippy’.
South Croydon’s Michael King will play his final senior game tomorrow in the Bendigo Bank Division 1 grand final, as his beloved Bulldogs take on Vermont in pursuit for back-to-back senior premierships.
The 35-year-old is part of the furniture at Cheong Park, belonging to the famous King clan led by club captain Dan King – along with cousin and teammate, Steve Dinnell.
King broke the news of his impending retirement to teammates on Monday night.
“I thought it was best to tell the boys that this is it,” King said.
“I’ve played with a lot of them for about 17 years and then other blokes who I’ve only got the chance to play with this year that have been there for the past three years are part of the furniture now.
“(My wife and I) have got a young kid and we actually just announced this week that we’ve got a second one on the way.
“It was sort of a few weeks ago I said that this is the perfect time to go (and) I came back to South Croydon this year anticipating and certainly praying that this moment (a Division 1 grand final) was going to happen and it has which is very exciting.
“Both sides (seniors and reserves) in grand finals makes it amazing.”
The final stage of a Division 1 grand final is fitting for the favourite son, who returned home to the Kennel after three seasons at Chirnside Park.
The stalwart has collectively played over 250 games and kicked over 600 goals, and has been an integral part of the Bulldogs’ meteoric rise from competing in Division 3 in 2006 to a Division 1 powerhouse looking to salute again tomorrow.
In 2006, he helped the Bulldogs to the Division 3 premiership victory over Upper Ferntree Gully, booting 55 majors for the season to begin the club’s journey to the top-tier, followed by a Division 2 flag in 2009 which saw a nine-point win over Mulgrave, in a year where ‘Zippy’ produced 73 goals.
King remembers struggling through a bout of osteitis pubis in the 2013 season when the club played its first-ever Division 1 EFL final, and the gut-wrenching devastation felt as he watched his Bulldogs from the sidelines.
“I remember breaking down with my osteitis pubis in the training session leading up to our final against Norwood that year,” King said.
“I had tears in my eyes and I thought that’s it – I’m 31 and never going to play in a first division final ever.
“I’m glad I made the move to go to Chirnside Park for a few years as I felt it helped prolong my career, to still being able to play at age 35 but one of the main reasons for coming back was the chance for success to finish my career was also huge.”
Family has been the cornerstone of King’s success as a footballer – from a child playing endless games of football and cricket with his brothers and cousins across countless Christmases to taking to the senior field together for South Croydon.
“I’ve been absolutely blessed to play with so many of my family over the years – in cricket at Ringwood and in footy with South Croydon,” King said.
“To play with ‘Dano’ (Dan King) for one last time and to play with Steve (Dinnell) – I didn’t get too many opportunities to play with Steve because he was at North Ballarat for all those years – but to play with him as well, it’s just amazing.
“Christmas day we’d always be playing cricket or footy against each other and that competitive nature from a young age has got us to where we are.”
Form has never been an issue with age in the family’s bloodlines – for Michael, nor for current players Dan King and Steve Dinnell, who continue to produce on the big stage time and again.
After all, ‘Zippy’ helped the Bulldogs to their thrilling six-point qualifying final victory over Doncaster, when he burst forward late in the game to calmly slot the winner on the run from 35 metres out.
“As a negative, we (the family) are all weird,” King joked.
“But that (talent) is one thing the majority of the family have been blessed with which I guess started with our dads and my uncles – they were very good sportsmen growing up and I know the amount of time Dano’s dad Noel put in with him and the amount of time my dad put in with me, Matt and David, and Johnny with Steve and Christopher (Dinnell).”
Regardless of the result, King says playing in this weekend’s Division 1 decider stands head and shoulders above all else in his career.
“Pure and simple it (a Division 1 premiership) would be my best moment ever,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone who’s been around the club takes for granted how successful we’ve been and how fun it’s been to be around – it is an amazing club.
“In terms of football, this is the pinnacle – it already is, regardless of what happens on the weekend – it’s the highlight of my footy career.”