St Kilda’s Max King pulled out the best performance of his career against West Coast on the weekend.
King kicked a career-best bag of six goals in a dominant showing and almost dragged the Saints over the line with three in the final quarter as they went down to the Eagles by eight points.
Along with his goal haul, he also took eight contested marks (nine marks total), eclipsing his previous record of five contested marks.
The 21-year-old became the first player since 1999 with under 50 matches to register eight contested marks and six goals in a game and only the third ever Saint to take eight or more contested marks in a game behind Stewart Loewe and Aaron Hamill.
It prompted words of praise from his former school coach, Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd.
“It was sensational,” Lloyd said on Sportsday.
“Everything came together, his marking, his kicking, and we saw that side of him, the aggressive side, his marking in the air.
“He had a young player on himself in Harry Edwards, when he had been taking the best defender. Why (Jeremy) McGovern wasn’t on him earlier is another question.
“It was unbelievable to see. It’s just a taste of what we’re going to see over the next decade of just how good he is.”
King had endured some well documented inaccuracy in front of goal in the first half of the season, returning 14.22 from his first 11 games, but has rediscovered his range recently.
The former pick 4 has nailed 16.4 in six matches since and Lloyd believes he has his mental strength to thank for his form reversal.
“He’s had a good six weeks of it, he’s kicked 16.4,” he added.
“He’s more compact, he’s over the ball, shoulders over the ball.
“He’s a very mentally strong person. A lot of guys can lose their way after what he went through, but full credit to him and his coaches.”
King has kicked a season tally of 30.26 to lead the way for the Saints, with his 42 contested marks ranking fifth and his 46 marks inside 50 rating sixth in the competition.
The 12th-placed Saints are next in action against Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Friday night as they look to stay in touch with the top eight.