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Sport Nation
Lyon provides damning reality of Max King's injury setback
Jaiden Sciberras • April 24th, 2025 3:52 pm
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has provided a damning timeline for the return of key forward Max King.
It had been earlier reported that King has suffered a fresh setback in his injury recovery.
King, who missed the back end of 2024 with a posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, underwent surgery on his right knee in February of this year.
While a timeline of four to six weeks was initially reported, Lyon believes the 24-year-old may not take the field until much later in the season, despite the successful surgery.
“(The surgery) was really clear,” Lyon said in his Round 7 press conference.
“That’s a period of time, they dig right at the bone spur, the scar tissue that was riling over and causing nine-out-of-ten pain at different times.
“We are confident we got to it, so now it’s just the process of healing and rehabilitation.
“It’s going to be a fair period of time. You are not going to see Max until the late end of the season, and that’s okay.
“Is it disappointing for Max and us? Yes, but we’ve got to power forward.
“He had a great structure, his knee is structurally sound, so it gives him a clear runway for whenever that is.”
The Saints coach remains confident that the repeated knee struggles won’t be a factor in King reaching his career ceiling, referring to premier full forwards who reached their respective primes in their later years.
“You look at (Joe) Daniher, you look at (Jesse) Hogan,” Lyon continued.
“Max is 24, they are hitting their peak at 29-31 because of all the challenges.
“Ghee wiz, if Max can just have a good run at it, I think he is going to hit his straps well before 29.”
Following the Saints’ 71-point loss in Round 6, the focus will remain on their challenge against the Lions this Saturday.
