Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020

St Kilda have clarified the decision to send key forward Max King to the Gold Coast as part of his ongoing rehab, with the club stressing it is simply a change of environment to support his recovery and fitness build-up ahead of a potential AFL return. King has been sidelined since 2024 due to long-term knee issues and is now also managing a hamstring setback, with his comeback timeline still uncertain.

Coach Ross Lyon said the move is designed to take pressure off the player and give him space away from Melbourne. “Get him away from the circus, probably, to be fair, and freshen him up,” Lyon said.

King is also spending time with his twin brother Ben King at Gold Coast, adding a personal element to his rehabilitation block. Lyon warned against treating return timelines as fixed, saying rehab progress depends on milestones rather than exact dates.

King is listed as one to two weeks away from selection, but St Kilda remain cautious ahead of their Round 14 clash with GWS.

👉 Plan your AFL Smart Tips picks here: AFL Smart Tips