{"id":716239,"date":"2026-06-05T05:08:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T05:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/716239\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T05:08:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T05:08:28","slug":"see-me-out-lyon-bullish-on-kings-afl-future-the-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/716239\/","title":{"rendered":"‘See me out’: Lyon bullish on King’s AFL future | The Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MaxMax King showed what he was capable of in 2022, playing 22 games for St Kilda and kicking 52 goals. Photo: Scott Barbour\/AAP PHOTOS<\/p>\n

Ross Lyon predicts Max King will outlast him at St Kilda and remains bullish about the injury-plagued key forward’s AFL future.<\/p>\n

After being sidelined for all of last season with a persistent knee problem, King is now recovering from a hamstring injury as he tries to make a comeback.<\/p>\n

What the Saints are missing with King sidelined was emphasised last week when they could only manage 0.5 to halftime against Hawthorn.<\/p>\n

Lyon said before Friday training that King returned to running this week and again pleaded for patience from Saints fans.<\/p>\n

\"MaxMax King has provided many highlights during a disrupted 83-game AFL career. (Linda Higginson\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n

“He’s right in and it’s just a matter of time,” Lyon said.<\/p>\n

“That’s what we envisage for Max, that’s what Max envisages. But in the now, it’s a tough time for him and it’s a tough time for us.<\/p>\n

“We just think he’s untapped potential on our list. He’ll see me out – he’ll be kicking 60, 80, whatever it is, in ’29, ’30, whatever it is.”<\/p>\n

The Saints have had a glimpse of King’s potential when he played 22 games in 2022 and kicked 52 goals.<\/p>\n

He has managed just 23 AFL games since.<\/p>\n

“It’s been a difficult period, but there’s nothing sinister there. That’s what I’d say if I’m talking to Saints fans,” Lyon said.<\/p>\n

“There’s nothing chronic … it’s just a product, because we were conservative (last year) with the repair, that ultimately failed.<\/p>\n

“When you do the (knee) repair, it’s four months off, then you come back and then that repair tears. It just makes him vulnerable in a conditioning aspect to soft tissue and that’s what we’ve seen.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, St Kilda’s misfiring attack will be strengthened by the returns of Mitch Owens and Liam Ryan, plus Nasiah Wanganen-Milera in the midfield, for Sunday’s tough away clash against Sydney.<\/p>\n

“Paper teams always look good, (but) they’ll all play, pending training,” Lyon said.<\/p>\n

“We’re always pleased to have them back, but we showed in the second half (against Hawthorn) that if you play positive football and you compete well, you can score.”<\/p>\n

The Saints also confirmed on Friday that last month’s mid-season draft recruit, Campbell Lake, would make his AFL debut<\/p>\n

Jack Silvagni kicked three goals when moved forward against the Hawks, but Lyon said it was not down to one player.<\/p>\n

“Imagine the rhetoric today if Tony Lockett left St Kilda and went to the Swans,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The club played in a grand final two years later (1997) and was (20 points) up at three-quarter time without him.<\/p>\n

“So I don’t think it’s about one person, it’s about a body of really competitive AFL footballers and that’s what we’re trying to build.”<\/p>\n

\"JackJack Silvagni impressed when moved forward, but St Kilda still suffered a 52-point loss to Hawthorn. (James Ross\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n

Lyon could not resist another crack at the concessions provided to the northern AFL teams when discussing Swans star Isaac Heeney.<\/p>\n

“He’s flying, isn’t he – a superstar of the competition, Isaac, a great academy product, that’s good,” the coach said.<\/p>\n

“We’ll have our hands full.”<\/p>\n

Highly rated Saints assistant Corey Enright is being touted as a potential senior coach, with Carlton and Essendon in the market.<\/p>\n

“I would drive him to any interview, to create an opportunity. They’re like hen’s teeth, pretty hard to get,” Lyon said.<\/p>\n

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