There is unrivalled positivity growing behind Max King\u2019s long-awaited AFL return.<\/p>\n
In fact, St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says \u201cwe\u2019ve never been more optimistic\u201d about the Saints\u2019 spearhead.<\/p>\n
King has not played senior footy in more than two seasons due to persistent knee and soft tissue setbacks.<\/p>\n
But as Lyon says in this week\u2019s now routine King update, the key forward is reaching all his milestones and is back to the AFL-standard running block.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hoping (next week), we\u2019ll cross that bridge when we get to it,\u201d Lyon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s that contingency, day by day, he\u2019s hitting his milestones and he\u2019s back to his 23 running.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve never been more optimistic, but Tony Elshaw, who worked with the great Denis Pagan, said to me, \u2018Ross, no close-ended statements, they just get you into trouble\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll just assess it as it comes. I loved his Telstra interview \u2026\u2019I\u2019m not rehabbing for the VFL\u2019, I tend to align with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re optimistic, but in fairness we\u2019ve got to get through a really important AFL game and Max has been doing a really good block of training. He\u2019s got a fair bit to go yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
The important fixture Lyon alludes to is St Kilda\u2019s season-shaping clash with Geelong on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
The Cats have uncharacteristically fallen to ninth after winning just one match since round 11.<\/p>\n
Lyon isn\u2019t jumping to conclusions with the Cats, however, saying the \u201cnuance and detail probably gets lost around the noise of win-loss\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s obviously been a lot of noise around them, but gee-whiz,\u201d Lyon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey played the Dockers with no (Tom) Stewart, no Bailey Smith. I watched that game and they were right into it to the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey played a red-hot Brisbane, they did kick 6.6 against Brisbane and had 61 entries \u2013 I wouldn\u2019t say they\u2019re out of form.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were six goals up against the Giants until they lost three players with injury, so that nuance and detail probably gets lost around the noise of win-loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it certainly doesn\u2019t get lost in our analysis of them and their capabilities. We\u2019re going down understanding we\u2019ve got a strong challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
It wouldn\u2019t be a Lyon press conference without the mic-drop finish and this week\u2019s was about big man Rowan Marshall.<\/p>\n
St Kilda was resolute on Marshall (contracted until end of 2027) in last season\u2019s trade period and Lyon said the club would maintain that this year if rival interest arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo two things: noted (rival interest) and correct (he\u2019s contracted),\u201d Lyon said before exiting.<\/p>\n