St Kilda forward Max King ‘smashing’ leg weights in recovery

St Kilda spearhead Max King says the approach to his recovery from a shoulder injury may bring surprise benefits to his game.

Max King has hit the gym with fervour while he waits to make his return to play from a shoulder reconstruction. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

St Kilda forward Max King may be able to lay claim to owning the biggest calves in the competition when he returns to the field later this season.

The Saints talisman says he has found a “silver lining” in his recovery from a shoulder reconstruction, adding significant bulk to his lower body that he hopes will give him more power.

King said there was still no timeline on his return, but the 22-year-old looms as an even more difficult opponent for key defenders than in 2022 when he kicked a career-best 52 goals.

The added size of the Saints’ leading goalkicker is comparable to Nat Fyfe’s transformation over the 2015 pre-season, with the Fremantle midfielder’s increased explosiveness a key contributor to his first Brownlow Medal.

“It’s a little bit of a silver lining spending more time in the gym, and I guess early days with the shoulder, where you can’t really do much upper body stuff,” King said.

Max King says he is determined to put more size on his lower body while he waits for his shoulder to heal. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“It’s a good opportunity to smash a bit of leg weights and try and stay strong and put some size on.

“You sort of forget (in rehab) what it felt like to be fully healthy, but I feel good out there, I feel powerful.”

The shoulder setback following a serious knee injury in his draft year had not affected King’s faith in his body’s ability to meet the demands of the game, he said.

“I’ve had about three years now of pretty consistent footy and the body has held up pretty well,” King said.

“This injury is pretty unlucky – a contact sort of injury that could’ve happened to anyone.”

King’s key forward partner Tim Membrey remains in doubt for round 1 following minor knee surgery in February, with the sharpshooter saying he was still limited to “slow jogging” and time in the gym two weeks out from the Saints’ season opener.

Saints forward Tim Membrey says he will not push to play in St Kilda’s season opener against Fremantle if his knee is feeling ‘dicey’. Picture: Michael Klein

“I got out yesterday and had a bit of a trot – it’s feeling good,” Membrey said.

“If it’s feeling good I’ll be putting my hand up, but it’s still a couple of weeks away, so I’ll be trying my best.

“I don’t think it’s something that we need to push if it does get dicey … it’s a long season.”

Membrey said the role of King’s replacement, likely to be one of Dougal Howard or Zaine Cordy, would be simply to provide a contest and bring the ball to ground for the Saints’ small forwards.

“It’s going to be an exciting opportunity for someone to grab early in the season,” he said.

“Whether it’s Dougal or Zaine up there, or Mitch Owens can play that role as well, as long as they’re competing and bringing the ball to ground, we’ve got some dangerous small forwards who can certainly hit the scoreboard.”

Originally published as St Kilda forward Max King ‘smashing’ leg weights in recovery