BEFORE Tuesday night’s NAB AFL Draft started, Melbourne had one M.King on its list. By the end of the night, there were two.

With its third pick in the Draft, Melbourne snapped up 200cm ruckman Mitch King from the Murray Bushrangers to join rookie Max King, also from the same TAC Cup club and standing at least 200cm.

Although not related, Mitch knows Max through their Murray connection.

“Yes, I know Max,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“I met him (Max King) when I was at the Murray Bushrangers as a 16-year old. I actually had a few coaches saying to me, ‘you kicked five goals for the Bushrangers on the weekend in the under 18s – that’s outstanding’.

“But I said, no that wasn’t me – that was Max King. But I’ve met Max a few times before. We are not related, but you would think we were with the same name and the fact we look pretty similar.”

Mitch King was claimed as Melbourne’s developing ruckman, given Max King, also an emerging Demon, is likely to play as a forward/ruckman in the future.

Mitch said he was an “athletic ruckman who uses my endurance around the ground”.

“I also go forward and take some good marks, but I’m just a hard worker around the ground. I compete hard in the ruck, but I’ve got a bit of a small body at the moment. I know I can work on that further when I get down to the club,” he said.

King said he “wasn’t too sure” what was going to happen on draft night, but he was delighted with the result.

“It was just me, Mum, Dad and my brother watching the draft and keeping quiet,” he said.

“I wasn’t too sure what was going to happen, but now – what an opportunity I have been given. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet … I still can’t believe it, but I’m very excited. 

“Melbourne was one of the club’s I thought I might end up, but I really wasn’t sure if I was going to go tonight. I thought I was more a chance in the Rookie Draft, but Melbourne was someone I talked to, but I still can’t believe it.”