St Kilda’s Max King Faces Another Setback, While Ed Sheeran Could Light Up Season Opener
St Kilda’s injury-plagued forward, Max King, is once again finding his career hampered by physical ailments, a situation that has drawn sympathy from one of the club’s most revered figures. Nick Riewoldt, a former Saints captain and now a prominent AFL commentator, has expressed his deep concern for King, whose promising career has been significantly impacted by a string of injuries.
King, 25, endured a completely sidelined season last year due to knee issues. His last senior appearance was in Round 16 of the 2024 season, a year where he managed only 12 games. The season prior saw him feature in just 11 matches. This ongoing struggle with his body is a stark contrast to the high expectations placed upon him as a key forward for the Saints.
The forward underwent knee surgery before Christmas, and is currently dealing with a low-grade calf strain. This latest setback casts doubt over his availability for St Kilda’s season opener next month against Collingwood. The Saints are poised to unveil a formidable lineup for this clash, featuring a host of high-profile recruits, including Tom de Koning, Jack Silvagni, Sam Flanders, and Liam Ryan.
Adding an extra layer of excitement to the season launch, Channel Seven revealed on Tuesday that there’s a possibility of British pop superstar Ed Sheeran performing at the game. Sheeran, a well-known supporter of the club, is scheduled to perform three sold-out shows at Marvel Stadium in the week leading up to the St Kilda vs. Collingwood match. Club officials are hopeful that this Round 1 Sunday night fixture at the MCG on March 8 will be a major drawcard. The idea of a Sheeran performance was reportedly floated by Gary O’Keeffe, Seven’s head of AFL. However, much like Max King’s availability, Sheeran’s appearance is not yet confirmed.
Riewoldt, who himself played his entire career with a compromised knee, understands the immense frustration King must be experiencing. “Obviously, I have a really keen eye on Max. My heart has just ached for him over the last couple of years,” Riewoldt commented at Seven’s AFL season launch. “I played my entire career with a compromised knee, so I understand the struggle. I just hope it’s go-time for him, and he gets that level of continuity that he needs because it’s really hard to become the player you want to be without continuity. I hope he gets that this year.”
King’s injury woes began with surgery in mid-2025 to address damage to the medial ligament in his right knee, a problem that had been persistent since late in the pre-season. Despite these ongoing issues, the Saints demonstrated their faith in King by re-signing him to a significant six-year deal in 2024, securing his services until 2032. “I have got my fingers crossed for him,” Riewoldt added.
King reached a career-high of 52 goals in 2022 and remains a crucial component of St Kilda’s ambition to contend for a premiership within the next five years. Riewoldt is also an enthusiastic supporter of the club’s aggressive recruitment strategy. “I love how aggressive they have been. They have been to draft, they have recruited. The only other tool at their disposal is to use the salary cap of which they had plenty of space. So to be aggressive and get out there and reshape the market, I love it,” he stated.
The Australian Football Hall of Famer is particularly optimistic about Tom de Koning’s impact in the ruck, especially after the latter signed an eight-year, $12 million contract. While de Koning will undoubtedly face scrutiny if his performance doesn’t meet expectations, Riewoldt believes the recent rule changes favouring aerial contests will benefit him. “What happens if he plays below expectations? I think any time a player plays below expectation, regardless of what they are getting paid, they come under scrutiny,” Riewoldt acknowledged. “This is going to be no different, but I think the changes in the rules are going to help him from a ruck perspective. People are probably sleeping on that a little bit. He is a jumper. Getting back to the days of Nic Nat [Naitanui], being able to launch in the ruck, I think that suits him perfectly. He is still building his game, but I am excited about what he can do in the next 10 [years].”
While St Kilda is widely expected to make a significant leap into the finals after finishing 12th in the past two seasons, Riewoldt advocates for a more long-term perspective. “A pass mark? I am reluctant to put a number on because I think it is going to be more over the next three years, rather than what happens specifically over the next 12 months,” he explained. “I think it will be more the eye test – what do we see from a [Mattaes] Phillipou, what do we see from [Max] King. The recruits are great, but I think a lot of that organic growth is going to come from the players they have there and need to become stars.”
Suns Star Matt Rowell Latest Casualty of Origin’s Return
The growing injury toll from the reintroduction of State of Origin football has claimed another high-profile victim, with Gold Coast Suns midfielder Matt Rowell set to miss the start of the AFL season.
Rowell, a Brownlow medallist and a standout performer for the Suns, will undergo surgery later this week to repair a fractured finger. The injury was sustained while he was representing Victoria in their clash against Western Australia. The financial and on-field cost to clubs from the return of Origin has become increasingly apparent since Saturday night, when Carlton’s Jacob Weitering was initially the primary concern.
Rowell now joins Greater Western Sydney defender Sam Taylor in being ruled out of their respective clubs’ opening games of the premiership season. Adelaide recruit Callum Ah Chee (hamstring) and Carlton’s Jacob Weitering (ribs) are also facing races against time to be fit for Round 1.
The Suns have not yet provided a definitive timeframe for Rowell’s return, but he has been officially ruled out of their opening-round fixture against Geelong on March 6. “Scans have shown a fracture in a finger on Matt’s left hand. After consulting with specialists this morning, the decision was made for Matt to undergo surgery this week,” stated Suns physiotherapist Andrew Weller. “A timeframe around his return to play will be determined following the operation.”
Despite the absence of Rowell, the Suns are still expected to field a potent midfield unit. With prized recruit Christian Petracca and captain Touk Miller both in contention for increased time in the centre, the team’s midfield depth remains a strength.
Victoria’s chairman of selectors, Garry Lyon, spoke highly of Rowell’s dedication to the Big V in the first Origin game since 1999. “He’s nearly my favourite,” Lyon remarked on SEN. “I think he got a broken knuckle and he quietly sat in the back of the box and didn’t really tell anyone, he was just looking at his hand. They had to say he couldn’t go back on, and he was just filthy. You should see him train or at least watch him do his warm-up before a game. It’s back in the Nick Riewoldt days, he was running everywhere, going bonkers before the game started.”
The Giants anticipate that Taylor will miss the initial rounds of the season due to a high-grade hamstring strain. His recovery is projected to take longer than the typical six weeks often associated with a moderate hamstring strain, such as the one experienced by his teammate Toby Bedford.
