St Kilda has been dealt a massive blow with key forward Max King ruled out for the remainder of the AFL season.
The struggling Saints on Wednesday confirmed King’s season is over after suffering a posterior cruciate ligament on Sunday.
The 23-year-old was injured before half time but remained on the field to play out the two-point loss to Port Adelaide.
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“This is a very disappointing outcome for Max,” Saints football manager David Misson said.
“It’s a credit to Max’s commitment to his teammates that he played out the game on Sunday, but for his long-term future and health, it’s important we now give his knee some time to rest and recover.
“While this will see Max miss the rest of the season, pleasingly he doesn’t require surgery, and this course of action will place him in the best possible position to attack pre-season.”
King is on a contract with St Kilda said to be worth more than $800,000 a season.
There was speculation the club would put him on the trade table later this year, but a Herald Sun report this week claims the Saints are preparing to extend King’s deal.
Club legend Nick Riewoldt recently told the Footy Talk podcast St Kilda can not afford to let King walk away.
“He (King) is not going anywhere,” Riewoldt said.
“I understand that he would be disappointed and frustrated with his form and that St Kilda people will be frustrated with his form.
“I have been critical of not necessarily him, but (his) forward craft and things like that in the past, which I think is reasonable.
“But he is such a big part of the future of the football club. We know that it is a work in progress and they are struggling to score.
“They lack talent up the field and no one knows better than me that you rely on good delivery at times.
“Yes, he can be more competitive and can fight harder in the contest at times, and that is going to be part of his challenges as an individual player.
“But for the Saints to get to where they want to get to, they need to bring in more talent, not get rid of talent they already have.”
St Kilda is wallowing in 15th spot on the AFL ladder with just five wins this season.