Saints Star’s Injury Woes Resurface as Club Eyes Premiership Push
One of St Kilda’s most revered figures has expressed deep empathy for forward Max King, whose promising career continues to be hampered by persistent injury setbacks. The 25-year-old spearhead endured a completely sidelined year in 2024 due to knee complications and last featured in a senior match in round 16 of that season. His appearances have been limited in recent years, with just 12 games in 2024 and 11 the season prior.
King underwent knee surgery before the Christmas break and is currently grappling with a low-grade calf issue. This latest concern casts doubt over his availability for the Saints’ season opener next month against Collingwood. The club is expected to unveil a formidable lineup for that clash, featuring a host of high-profile recruits, including Tom de Koning, Jack Silvagni, Sam Flanders, and Liam Ryan.
Adding another layer of excitement to the season’s commencement, Channel Seven revealed on Tuesday that global pop sensation Ed Sheeran, a prominent St Kilda supporter, might perform at the game. Sheeran is scheduled to play three sold-out concerts at Marvel Stadium in the week leading up to the Saints’ opening round fixture. Club officials are hoping the Sunday night encounter at the MCG on March 8 will be a significant drawcard. The possibility of a Sheeran performance was initially raised by Seven’s Head of AFL, Gary O’Keeffe. However, much like King’s fitness, Sheeran’s involvement is not yet confirmed.
Riewoldt’s Sympathy and Support for King
Former Saints captain Nick Riewoldt, a distinguished commentator and a significant figure in the club’s history, voiced his understanding of the frustration Max King must be experiencing. Riewoldt, considered King’s blue-chip successor in the forward line, shared his sentiments at Seven’s AFL season launch.
“Obviously, I have a really keen eye on Max. My heart has just ached for him over the last couple of years,” Riewoldt stated. “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 history includes surgery in mid-2025 to address damage to the medial ligament in his right knee, an issue that had been present since late in the pre-season. Despite these challenges, the Saints demonstrated their faith in him 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, underscoring his support.
King achieved a career-best tally of 52 goals in 2022 and remains a crucial element of the Saints’ aspirations for a breakthrough premiership within the next five years.
Aggressive Recruitment Strategy Praised
Riewoldt also lauded the club’s ambitious recruitment drive. “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 remarked.
As a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame, Riewoldt is confident that Tom de Koning will make a substantial impact in the ruck, especially after signing a lucrative eight-year, $12 million contract. While De Koning will undoubtedly face intense scrutiny if his performance falls short of expectations, Riewoldt believes the revised ruck rules, which encourage greater aerial contests at centre bounces, will be beneficial.
“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.”
Riewoldt concluded by expressing his anticipation for De Koning’s development: “He is still building his game, but I am excited about what he can do in the next 10 [years].”
Long-Term Vision for the Saints
While the Saints are widely expected to contend for finals after finishing 12th in the past two seasons, Riewoldt advocates for a more extended 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 Latest Origin Casualty Amidst Rising Injury Toll
The injury toll from the recent State of Origin fixtures has continued to climb, with Gold Coast Suns’ midfield star Matt Rowell now sidelined for the start of the season. Rowell is set to undergo surgery later this week to repair a fractured finger sustained while representing Victoria against Western Australia.
The return of the Origin competition has significantly increased the cost to clubs, with the concern escalating since Saturday night when Carlton’s Jacob Weitering was initially considered the primary casualty.
Rowell joins Greater Western Sydney defender Sam Taylor, who has also been ruled out of his club’s opening premiership season game. Adelaide recruit Callum Ah Chee (hamstring) and Weitering (ribs) are also racing against time to be fit for their respective teams.
The Suns have not yet provided a definitive timeline for Rowell’s return, but he has already been ruled out of their opening round clash against Geelong on March 6. Suns physiotherapist Andrew Weller confirmed the injury, stating, “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. A timeframe around his return to play will be determined following the operation.”
Despite Rowell’s absence, the Suns are still expected to field a potent midfield. With Rowell, the Brownlow Medal winner from the previous year, out of action, prized recruit Christian Petracca and captain Touk Miller are likely to see increased time in the centre.
Victoria’s chairman of selectors, Garry Lyon, spoke highly of Rowell’s dedication to the Big V in the first Origin game since 1999. Lyon recounted an incident where Rowell, despite sustaining a broken knuckle, quietly endured the pain, only revealing the extent of his injury when he was unable to return to the field.
“He’s nearly my favourite,” Lyon said 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, with his recovery expected to take longer than the six weeks designated for a moderate hamstring strain suffered by teammate Toby Bedford.
