Max King's injury curse deepens as hamstring issue strikes again

Key facts

• Max King, 25, has played only 23 games since the end of 2022.
• He last appeared at AFL level in Round 16, 2024, after a knee injury.
• King is contracted to St Kilda until the end of the 2032 season on a deal reportedly worth more than $1 million per year.
• He kicked 159 goals in 83 games since debuting in 2020.
• King underwent knee surgery in 2024, missed the entire 2025 season, had another knee operation in December, then suffered a calf injury in January.
• He returned to VFL action on Sunday against Gold Coast and emerged unscathed after 665 days out.
• St Kilda called his latest hamstring issue 'hamstring awareness' and said it was minor.
• King is receiving advice from people urging him to look elsewhere.

Another setback for injury-plagued forward

Max King's return to football has hit another roadblock. The St Kilda full-forward was forced from a VFL match against Carlton at Ikon Park before halftime after grabbing at his left hamstring. He had kicked two early goals and looked dominant, but the injury — described by the club as 'hamstring awareness' — ended his day. Social media erupted with sympathy. 'F*** I feel for Max King. Unluckiest player on any list in the AFL at the moment,' one fan wrote. Another posted: 'No. No no no no no. Nooooo Max nooooooooooooo NOOOOOOO SURELY NOT MAX KING NOOOOOOOOOOO.' St Kilda later confirmed King would take no further part, but suggested the issue was minor.

A long road back from knee surgeries

King has not played at AFL level since Round 16, 2024, when he hurt his knee. He underwent surgery that year, then missed the entire 2025 season, before having another knee operation in December. He returned to training in January but suffered a calf injury that kept him sidelined until now. His first competitive hitout in 665 days came on Sunday against Gold Coast in the VFL. He had only a handful of touches and kicked a behind in limited game time, but the fact he competed solidly and emerged unscathed was a massive positive. The Saints had mulled whether to play him at AFL level without a VFL hit-out, but chose the cautious route.

Club's cautious approach and King's resilience

St Kilda's general manager of football, Lenny Hayes, said earlier in the week: 'Max has worked through a solid block of conditioning and contact training as he builds towards his return after missing a significant period of football. Throughout what's been a challenging period, he's shown strong resilience and commitment to getting his body back to where it needs to be.' Hayes added: 'We'll continue to lean on the advice of our high-performance team and won't take any unnecessary risks, but he's given himself every chance to be available this week.' The club's cautious approach reflects the high stakes surrounding a player contracted until 2032 on a deal reportedly worth more than $1 million a year.

Advice to consider a move elsewhere

King is receiving advice from people urging him to look elsewhere. 'He's getting advice from people saying he should look elsewhere, Max King,' Morris said on SEN Breakfast. 'Now I don't know if he's taking that advice… to try to go to another club at the end of the year.' Morris noted that many players move clubs when injury-riddled and find a new lease on life. Kane Cornes suggested the Saints might also view a clean break as a win, given King's hefty salary. 'If he went to a warm environment, that would be his last shot, maybe,' Cornes said. King himself has not indicated he wants to leave, but the speculation underscores the frustration surrounding his career.

Numbers tell the story of a career stalled

Since debuting in 2020, King has kicked 159 goals in 83 games. But since the end of 2022, he has managed only 23 appearances. His last AFL game was in June 2024. The 25-year-old was once seen as a cornerstone of St Kilda's future under Ross Lyon, but the repeated injuries have raised questions about whether he can fulfill that promise. In his second VFL game in six days against Carlton, he looked sharp early, clunking marks and kicking two goals. But the hamstring issue — even if minor — adds to a growing list of setbacks that have defined his past three seasons.

What comes next for King and the Saints

St Kilda's next step with King will be fascinating. He is too good to languish in the VFL for long, and could be a chance to return to AFL level this weekend. If not, two runs in the VFL would likely be enough. The Saints' win against West Coast was predictable, but King's hitout was far more significant for the long term. For now, the club insists the hamstring issue is minor. But with each new injury, the narrative around King shifts. The advice from those close to him to consider a fresh start elsewhere is a sign that patience — on both sides — may be wearing thin. Whether King stays or goes, his next chapter will define not just his career, but also the trajectory of a St Kilda side built around his potential.

The bottom line

• Max King's latest hamstring injury, though described as minor, adds to a history of setbacks that have limited him to 23 games since 2022.
• He is contracted to St Kilda until 2032 on a deal worth over $1 million per year, making any decision about his future financially significant.
• King returned to VFL action after 665 days out and emerged unscathed, but the hamstring issue occurred in his next game.
• Advice from those close to King suggests he should consider moving clubs to revive his career, though he has not publicly indicated a desire to leave.
• St Kilda has taken a cautious approach to King's return, prioritizing long-term health over immediate availability.
• The Saints' next decision on King's AFL return will be closely watched, with two VFL games likely enough to prove his fitness.