St Kilda coach Ross Lyon limiting expectations for returning star Max King

St Kilda have had some great full forwards including the legendary Tony Lockett so there’s pressure on Max King ahead of his season debut.

Max King of the Saints is ready to return (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon doesn’t know what he’s going to get from Max King because he’s never coached him in a game but has tried to downplay expectations on the spearhead ahead of his first game for the season.

King, who kicked 52 goals in 2022, has overcome shoulder operation and hamstring issues, and a little bit of anxiety form the coach, to be ready to play GWS on Sunday in a timely return after the Saints were punished by Adelaide last weekend and with fellow forward Tim Membrey in concussion protocols.

Lyon has only seen King at training but knows a club which has featured key forwards like AFL legend Tony Lockett and fellow century goalkicker Fraser Gehrig as well as superstar Nick Riewoldt can expect the world from their spearheads.

So while he said the Saints are better with King playing, moved to limit expectation.

“We know statistically he adds a bit to the team,” Lyon said on Wednesday.

“But I think the danger is and I think at St Kilda they had Lockett and Riewoldt and Fraser Gehrig and you’re looking for the next one and sometimes it’s undue pressure, but I think he’s handled that really well.

Max King of the Saints (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“Every athlete, every player would go in each week with a due degree of anxiety worrying about a future event. It’s how you handle that, so I’m sure he’ll be fine.

“We know there’s a tipping point for personnel but we’d love to have him in, we think he makes us better

“We’ve been able to perform admirably without him which has been pleasurable, really, but it’d be good to have him back no doubt.”

The new version of Lyon, called “cuddly” by captain Jack Steele, said he wasn’t going to be “reactionary” after last week’s 52-point loss to the Crows, a second loss in three games for St Kilda after four wins in a row to open the season. l

Instead he was confident the issue was a simple enough one to address to get back on the winner’s list.

“Everything‘s pretty reactionary. Kenny Hinkley (Port Adelaide coach) was out of the job after Round 2 and now they are second on the ladder.,” Lyon said.

“The Tigers were gone and now they’re a threat to everybody. I just think we’re very reactionary and I understand that but I can’t get caught up in it as a coach or a team.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“So we’re about understanding it’s a sharp reminder how competitive it is. And we’re not going to do it on pure talent.

“We’ve got to have effort and system that comes together and give us a best chance.”

Lyon said Steele, who has a knee issue, would have to get through Friday’s main training session to be a chance to play the Giants.

Originally published as St Kilda coach Ross Lyon limiting expectations for returning star Max King