St Kilda star Max King in doubt for AFL season opener after undergoing last-minute knee surgery

St Kilda's key forward Max King underwent emergency surgery for a long-standing knee problem ahead of the season, casting doubt on his availability for Round 1. King, 24, has been enduring pain in his right knee since sustaining an injury in an intra-club practice match on February 7. This injury has been a significant concern for the team's forward line.

The Saints had initially hoped to avoid surgery, but due to recurring pain, King underwent exploratory arthroscopic surgery on Thursday. He now faces a race against time to prove his fitness before St Kilda's AFL season opener against Adelaide on March 16, an away game that the team is eager to win.

St Kilda's Football Manager David Misson stated on Thursday: "We explored a number of non-surgical options to resolve Max’s pain, which had some effect, but ultimately wasn’t lasting. The surgery went well, and we will now give Max some time to recover and determine a clearer return-to-play timeline accordingly. Despite this, we don’t foresee this causing a significant delay to Max’s 2025 season, and he remains a chance to be available for Round 1." The team is optimistic about his long-term recovery.

King, who is contracted with the team until 2032, is one of the league's most promising key forwards, but has been plagued by knee and shoulder injuries in recent years. The Saints are hopeful that Jack Sinclair (hamstring) and Rowan Marshall (pelvis) will be fit for Round 1, but both will miss Saturday's practice match against Port Adelaide. Their recovery is crucial for the team's overall performance this season.