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Max King’s Long-Awaited AFL Return Cut Short

Hamstring tightness forced him out 13 minutes into the third quarter, raising questions about his recovery after multiple knee surgeries and other setbacks.

Overview

  • St Kilda removed Max King from the field 13 minutes into the third quarter after he reported hamstring tightness and the club ruled him out for the match.
  • King recorded only one kick and one handball in limited game time before he went to the rooms and did not return.
  • His comeback follows a prolonged injury run that began with a season-ending posterior cruciate ligament tear and has since involved repeated complications.
  • The club had signed King to a long-term six-year deal and brought him straight into the senior side after a Gold Coast rehabilitation block, a decision that drew criticism from commentators who called the return rushed.
  • The new setback deepens uncertainty about King’s availability for St Kilda’s forward structure and will force the club to reassess selection, load management and his next steps in rehabilitation.