Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy thinks that St Kilda should consider using Max King as a forward/backup ruckman.
King is currently a permanent forward for the Saints and while there’s no doubt he has star potential, the 23-year-old has kicked just six goals from four games in 2024.
While the Saint missed the club's loss against the Western Bulldogs with knee soreness, Healy thinks that Ross Lyon should consider giving him some ruck minutes to get him more involved up the ground.
At the moment, St Kilda play Rowan Marshall as their No. 1 ruckman with Mitch Owens – who stands at 191cm – playing the number two role.
His form prompted an SEN Sportsday caller to suggest the Saints should trade him, and while Kane Cornes and Healy both wouldn’t consider that if they were St Kilda, they do think that the forward can produce more than he has so far this campaign.
Cornes: “This pre-season I said of anyone who needs a big year, Max King needs a big year because it's about the time where if you are going to launch and be a star of the game.
“It's about the time frame that Tom Hawkins and Nick Riewoldt and these other key forwards did it, they take a little bit of time.
“I got a lot of pushback from the Saints fans who said I was being harsh on him, but it sounds like you (caller) agree with me.
“Now, he's contracted to the Saints until the end of 2026 and I think he's probably the last player they would trade considering the needs of that footy club at the moment.
“But, I think the criticism is fair that the second efforts, the urgency and his ability to dominate games hasn't been there like we thought it would be at this stage of his career.”
Healy: “He gets down on himself, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and he loses a bit of confidence early and he's a reverse (in confidence) when he's up and about.
“So, he's got to work through that … but I still think that there is some benefit in considering putting him in as that second ruck option.
“St Kilda need a second ruck option because he's a much better option than the ones that they're using at the present time.”
Cornes: “He’s a better option than Owens, but I guess they're worried about his body which has broken down at times.
Healy: “But you could say that about Joe Daniher.”
Cornes: “Fair. Harry McKay also had an injury there for a while with his bad back going back a while.”
King will hope to return from injury when St Kilda play Port Adelaide during Round 7 at the Adelaide Oval on Friday, April 26.
