AFL side St Kilda’s senior coach Ross Lyon has publicly thrown his support behind troubled key forward Max King, saying the young talent is starting to find clarity amid his devastating season-ending injury setback.
King’s long-awaited return to AFL competition in Round 21, which came after two full seasons sidelined by injury, was cut short dramatically during the third quarter of the match when he suffered a sudden left hamstring strain. Within days of stepping back onto the field for his first game in two years, the club confirmed King would miss the remainder of the 2024 season, dashing his hopes of a fairytale comeback this year.
Despite the heartbreaking outcome, Lyon says he holds no regrets over clearing King to play his long-awaited return match. Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, the senior coach put the injury in perspective, framing it as a minor hurdle in the broader context of King’s life and career.
“We understand the disappointment and the concern around this, but there are countless stories of elite athletes pushing through these setbacks to come out stronger on the other side,” Lyon said. “Max has tremendous mental toughness, he has unwavering support from his family, and the entire St Kilda organization is right behind him. We will get through this together and see the other side of this challenge.”
Lyon added that he has met one-on-one with King since the season-ending injury diagnosis to offer personal support. “I went around to his place, we had some food, shared a cinnamon scroll, and just had an open chat about life, not just football,” Lyon explained. “He knows we are firmly in his corner, no matter what.”
Off the conversation around King’s injury, Lyon’s attention is now turning to this weekend’s make-or-break clash against Carlton. The Sunday evening match, scheduled for a 7:20pm kickoff at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, pitches 10th-placed St Kilda against 11th-placed Carlton, with the winner set to claim the final spot in the top eight and secure a spot in this year’s finals series.
Historically, St Kilda has had the upper hand in recent matchups against the Blues, claiming victory in two of their last three encounters. Their most recent meeting in May ended in a comfortable 39-point win for the Saints. For Lyon, the stakes of this weekend’s game do not need to be spelled out to his playing group. “Everyone around the league is talking about it, I know what’s on the line, and every single one of my players knows too,” he said. “Every guy in the squad is hungry to earn the right to compete in September.”
This return to finals football would mark a major milestone for Lyon, who is currently chasing his first finals appearance since returning to the head coaching role at St Kilda.