Geelong assistant coach Steven King out of hospital after collapsing at training on Friday

There’s good news for the Cats ahead of today’s preliminary final with assistant coach Steven King given the all clear after collapsing at training. He won’t be at the MCG, though.

Steven King during his time coaching at Gold Coast. Picture: Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Geelong assistant coach Steven King is out of hospital but will not be part of the Cats’ panel for their preliminary final clash against Brisbane following his health scare.

King collapsed at Geelong’s captain’s run on Friday after suffering a medical episode.

The 56-year-old has travelled to Perth this week as part of West Coast’s senior coach interview process.

King has been given the all clear by doctors and the club expects him to resume his assistant coach duties next week if the Cats advance.

Geelong head of development Nigel Lappin and Mark Corrigan will fill the void in the coaches box on Saturday evening.

“First and foremost the Club’s priority has been Steven’s health and providing support to his family. We are pleased he is now at home and taking some time to rest and recover,” Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie said.

Steven King. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

King, 45, collapsed while talking to colleagues as the Cats were kicking off their captain’s run on Friday, the final preparation for the preliminary final against the Brisbane Lions.

He was taken to hospital but head coach Chris Scott later told media that the situation was not life threatening and King was responsive.

Geelong put out a statement on Friday afternoon confirming King “had a medical episode”.

Scott said on Friday morning “it would be irresponsible for us to even consider him to be around over the next 24 hours or so”.

Scott said he wasn’t present at the time King was treated but said he had been told the 2007 premiership hero was “conscious, talking and breathing normally’.

“We’re just trying to stay calm and prioritise the right things which for us are to ensure we do everything we can to support Steven,” Scott said.

“I don’t want to say too much that might not be accurate. I think it’s reasonable at the moment, even before we’ve had the chance to speak to Steven directly, for us to prioritise his health.

“It would be irresponsible for us to even consider him to be around over the next 24 hours or so.

“In these situations it does reinforce that there is the right thing that supersedes football. I suspect if he is feeling good, he will be disappointed to hear that news.

“Even if he isn’t feeling great, he’ll be disappointed because he is a competitor.

“Even at this pointy end of the season, it reinforces to us what the right thing is over lesser priorities.”

King and Cameron Mooney celebrate Geelong’s 2007 premiership.

Players were taken off the ground as a result of King’s episode and remained inside for around 20 minutes.

“It is upsetting and it does impact the players. I don’t take the view of these things that you’ve got to pretend something isn’t happening,” Scott said.

“What we’ve got to do is deal with where we are.

“It is quite confronting. Our club, we’ve had similar sorts of episodes to this. Our experience is you’ve just got to deal with the situation as it presents.

“We think that if we’re guided by the philosophy of just making sure we can do everything we can for Steven and his family then it’s likely we’ll make good decisions.

“In these situations, any football priority comes second.”

King joined the Cats as a senior assistant coach for the 2024 season and this week returned from Perth having met with West Coast about its vacant senior coaching role.

“He has been working pretty hard and it is a pretty stressful situation to be at this point of the season,” Scott said.

“There is a bit of stress and excitement about the prospect he could be facing over in Perth.

“I’ve only known him for 12 months but he’s a very resilient character. I’m confident he’ll bounce back.”

The Eagles said in a statement: “The West Coast Eagles are aware of a medical episode involving Geelong assistant coach and Senior Coach candidate Steven King at the Cats’ training session this morning.

“Our thoughts are with Steven, his family and the Geelong Football Club. Steven’s health is the priority, and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

Ambulance Victoria confirmed paramedics were called just before 11am and a person was taken to Epworth hospital in Waurn Ponds.

Scott was due to speak to media at 11.30am but that was pushed back by 50 minutes.

King has looked after the Geelong midfield this year, having returned to the club after a stint coaching Gold Coast, which included as interim head coach at the end of 2023.

King, an All-Australian ruck, captained the Cats and played in the 2007 premiership in a distinguished career.

Originally published as Geelong assistant coach Steven King out of hospital after collapsing at training on Friday