EFL 2018: South Croydon ruckman Max King hoping for premiership glory after missing the 2017 flag

MAX King watched from his hospital bed with food poisoning last year as South Croydon scored a grand final upset, but he’s aiming for a premiership medallion this September.

IT would make for a good conspiracy theory.

South Croydon tall Max King missed last year’s Division 1 grand final after suffering food poisoning the night before the game.

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His replacement? Housemate Alex Birch.

Most gave the Bulldogs little chance of toppling powerhouse Vermont in the Eastern Football League decider. The task was made that much harder when King was a late withdrawal thanks to a dodgy burger.

The 22-year-old was forced to watch the livestream from his hospital bed as South Croydon recorded one of the great Eastern Football League grand final upsets.

The Bulldogs gave the boy from the NSW town of Wagga Wagga every chance of getting up for the game, only to be replaced by Birch an hour before the bounce.

King laughed when it was suggested Birch, who kicked two vital goals in the decider, sabotaged his grand final preparations.

Max King at Melbourne training during his time as a rookie. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“Unless he snuck into a restaurant and poisoned the burger, I don’t think so,” King said.

“Woke up about 3am and was vomiting profusely and it was a bit of a sight for my girlfriend to walk in and check on me.

“I rang my mum, who is the CEO of the day surgery in Wagga, and she said if I got to hospital they might be able to give me a shot that will make me feel better, but unfortunately they couldn’t do that.

“Funnily enough it was my birthday the next day so I spent that in bed with a diaper on.”

Severely dehydrated, a huge roar went up when King made it to Cheong Park to soak up the celebrations before he quickly returned to bed.

The former Melbourne rookie recalls the mixed emotions cheering on from hospital.

“It was obviously very exciting but I was extremely jealous as well,” he said.

“To have a win, obviously not just the players but for the supporters, people that have been there for years that had never seen a Division 1 final win, let alone a grand final, it was just good to see.

“Obviously I wanted to play but the stars didn’t align so it was just good to see the club in such a good position.”

Max King was the dominant player for South Croydon against Doncaster. Picture: Stuart Milligan

King arrived at South Croydon ahead of the 2017 season through former Demons teammate Matt Jones.

He quickly felt at home, providing the Bulldogs a ruck and forward option to finish equal fourth in the Chandler Medal.

King underlined his importance to South Croydon’s quest for back-to-back flags with a telling four-goal haul in the qualifying final against Doncaster.

He said missing out on premiership glory last year had given him added incentive to play in a flag in 2018.

“There is a little bit extra there that makes you want to go and achieve a grand final win and experience that with my teammates,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say I’m anymore motivated than any other year. You always want to win the grand final.”

If the Bulldogs make the big dance, you can be assured any preparations won’t involve a burger.

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