St Kilda forward Max King ruled out for season in huge blow for Saints

Max King is out for the remainder of the 2024 season after tearing his posterior cruciate ligament. But St Kilda are confident he can bounce back in a similar vein to a Blues star.

St Kilda is adamant injured spearhead Max King can bounce back from his latest setback in a similar vein to Carlton superstar Charlie Curnow after confirming the Saints’ goal kicker was out for the season with a serious knee injury.

King tore his left posterior cruciate ligament in the third term on Sunday but played on.

The injury is a major blow for the Saints and continues a nightmare run of injury problems for the Haileybury product who has dislocated his shoulder twice and also hurt the same left knee in a clash against GWS Giants.

Encouragingly, King does not require surgery on his left knee and is set to be ready for the first day of the 2025 pre-season. He underwent a knee reconstruction after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in his draft year.

Max King in action against Brisbane. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Saints’ football boss David Misson said King’s courage on Sunday showed his commitment level to the club and was adamant the goal kicker could come back stronger.

Misson said Curnow’s recovery from three years of nightmare knee injuries to win back-to-back Coleman Medals clearly showed King could overcome the latest hurdle.

“We feel that Max is a long-term player at St Kilda,” he said.

“I spoke to him on the phone earlier and cited Charlie Curnow’s history, who played 15 games in three years and virtually missed two seasons with knee injuries.

“He’s only a young guy, he’s about to turn 24, he’s had some problems with his body.

“But we’re really confident that he’s going to overcome those and he’s going to be a long-term established player for this football club.

“They (contract talks on King’s future) have started and we are in talks and we’re really pleased with the way they’re going but we’re not at a stage yet to announce anything.”

The No. 4 draft pick has been the subject of intense trade speculation that he should consider his future elsewhere, but the club is adamant it wants him to help lead the team up the ladder in coming years.

The key forward’s absence has created a void for Tim Membrey to step up against Sydney Swans on Sunday, while young tall Anthony Caminiti will also be missing with an ankle injury.

Anthony Caminiti being assessed by trainers. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Scans on Tuesday revealed “a full tear” of his posterior cruciate ligament, meaning he would require an extended stint on the sidelines despite briefly considering whether he could play on for the remainder of this season.

“He wanted 24 hours to think about it because he is quite functional and he considered playing on and helping his teammates out for the rest of the season,” Misson said.

“We are quite glad in a way that he had made the decision to finish up (this season) but what it is going to require is being in a brace where it, the knee, doesn’t move at all for three weeks to help the ligament glue up.”

Misson said the medical staff checked on King in game and that the forward said the injury was not that bad and that he wanted to play on.

He also moved into the ruck to help provide a spark as the Saints fell to their sixth loss of the season by 10 points or less, leaving the club at 5-10 in Ross Lyon’s second season in charge.

But key officials were clear there were going to be some challenges in the first few seasons of Lyon’s tenure after identifying some deficiencies in the list.

The club is clear on its list strategy to help bolster the side and will keep its top draft picks this year in a search for top talent at the draft.

The Saints will also target some explosive ballwinners in the free agency market to help reinvigorate the midfield over the next two years.

DETAILS: KING TO MISS SEASON WITH KNEE INJURY

St Kilda spearhead Max King will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his posterior cruciate ligament in the two-point loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday.

The Herald Sun on Wednesday revealed King seriously injured his left knee in the third quarter but bravely played on with the injury in an effort to help lift his side.

In a major blow to the Saints, scans revealed the key forward tore his posterior cruciate ligament and will be sidelined for the rest of the 2024 season.

King was heavily criticised for his performance on Sunday but internally club chiefs have lauded his bravery and efforts to play on despite the pain and restriction.

Max King is set for a stint on the sidelines. Picture: Getty Images

The club is working to sign the 23-year-old to a long-term contract extension. He is already signed until the end of 2026.

King hurt his left knee earlier in the year in the loss to GWS Giants and has been restricted at times with it this season.

He underwent a knee reconstruction on his opposite knee (right) early in his draft year.

Saints football boss David Misson said King would need an extended stint on the sidelines to recover.

Surgery is not required.

“This is a very disappointing outcome for Max,” Misson said.

“It’s a credit to Max’s commitment to his teammates that he played out the game on Sunday, but for his long-term future and health, it’s important we now give his knee some time to rest and recover.

“While this will see Max miss the rest of the season, pleasingly he doesn’t require surgery, and this course of action will place him in the best possible position to attack pre-season.”

Max King as had troubles with his left knee all season. Picture: Getty Images

King, who hurt his knee early in the third term at Marvel Stadium, moved into the ruck with the injury late in the game.

It is a huge blow to the Saints who will have to restructure the forward line without its spearhead and Anthony Caminiti, who is out with an ankle injury.

Caminiti had been shifted into defence but has played mostly forward in his two seasons at St Kilda.

Ruckman-forward Jack Hayes is also sidelined with a new problem.

It could means the Saints continue with a heavy developmental focus in the back end of the season after falling out of finals contention.

Ross Lyon’s men are in 15th spot on the ladder with a 5-10 record.

But the Saints have remained competitive in 2024 losing six of their games by 10 points or less.

The club is set to aggressively overhaul its list at season’s end.