Saints fan Max King says playing for St Kilda would be a dream come true
The King twins could make AFL draft history but for Max, he would “love” to play for St Kilda. It’s now up to the Saints to use Pick No.4 on the lifelong fan who idolised Nick Riewoldt.
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Max King says he would “love” to play for St Kilda as the Saints wrestle with whether to use Pick No.4 on the 204cm goalkicker.
King, a lifelong St Kilda supporter and Nick Riewoldt fan who lives 10 minutes from Moorabbin, this week told the Herald Sun he wanted to join the Saints.
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With King’s reconstructed right knee improving rapidly, he and brother Ben could on Thursday night become the first twins taken in the top 10 of the same AFL draft.
With interstate clubs currently owning eight of the first 11 selections, the King twins have pledged to work hard no matter where the draft takes them.
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But if they had their way they’d be staying in Melbourne.
“I’ve been a St Kilda supporter my whole life and it would just be a dream come true to pull on those colours,” Max King said.
“I’d love to end up at St Kilda, it’s right around the corner, but you never know. There’s been a lot of talk about that pick.”
The sons of Marni and Brook King — Max born 60 seconds before Ben — have juggled Year 12 exams with club interviews in recent weeks, entertaining a constant stream of officials at the family’s Hampton home.
The boys admit it’s been hard not to study the draft order and play out different scenarios.
“Somewhere between picks five to eight is probably where I see myself,” Ben King said.
“I have been looking at those picks closely, but it’s hard to gauge what clubs are thinking; they’re quite secretive.
“I’d prefer to stay with my family in Melbourne and get to the Western Bulldogs (pick 7), but I’m really just keen to play some AFL footy and wherever I fall, that’s life.”
Max said everything had gone to plan with the knee he injured playing for Haileybury College in April and hopes to be in full training — wherever that may be — come January.
“I’m really happy with how it’s tracking,” he said.
“Running was a big thing for me and I’m doing more and more each week. I’m loving the rehab at the moment.”
Marni King said she would be at Marvel Stadium in a physical capacity, but joked: “I don’t think I’ll be able to feel my body.”
Asked what happens in an ideal world, she said: “They achieve their dream and they get to play at the highest level and hopefully … get to stay in Melbourne.”
Max and Ben know anything is possible. At the end of what has been a hectic and life-changing year, they’ve been conscious of taking it all in.
“We’re just trying to soak it up and spend some good family time together because you don’t know, come Thursday night we could be packing our bags,” Max said.
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