Jake King seen again with former Bandidos boss
Richmond AFL player Jake King has again been spotted meeting underworld figure Toby Mitchell despite being urged not to associate with him.
A camera captured King and Toby Mitchell, who has twice survived being shot, talking in a central Melbourne street.
The pair chatted on a footpath, before hugging as they parted ways, the Seven Network footage shows.
Last August, King was counselled by Richmond about associating with Mitchell after inviting him into the Richmond rooms following a round-20 match.
At the time, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the incident concerned him, as it went against everything the AFL was teaching its clubs about associating with such people.
Last February, the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) alleged there was widespread use of drugs and organised crime involvement in professional sport.
“We’ve made it very clear in all our sessions with the clubs, post the ACC announcement … that if you put yourself in that position, you are vulnerable,” Demetriou told ABC radio last year.
“And why would you do that?
“There’s an association, and it doesn’t start just in the change rooms.”
Calls for Jake King to be fined or sacked for catching up with bikie friend? Garbage. There is a thing called freedom of association.
— Sarah Joseph (@profsarahj) January 23, 2014
But in December, King was photographed watching a lingerie football game with Mitchell, a former Bandidos boss, in Melbourne.
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale conceded in December the friendship was “disappointing” but the club was not likely to sanction King.
“In this situation, we would expect Jake to make better decisions,” Gale told SEN radio in December.
Comment is being sought from the Richmond Football Club.