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AAP
AAP
Sport
Shayne Hope

King to build on AFL goals haul: Saints

Max King has been in top goal-kicking form for St Kilda to share the lead in the Coleman Medal. (AAP)

Teammates of St Kilda's leading goal-kicker Max King are convinced a big haul is just around the corner for the emerging AFL superstar.

The signs are there as the 21-year-old grabs games by the scruff of the neck, hitting the scoreboard in rapid-fire fashion.

King exploded with three and four goals in final quarters to secure wins over Fremantle and Richmond respectively.

And he kicked three in the fourth term last week to put the exclamation mark on a demolition of Hawthorn.

It was a third-straight win that propelled the Saints into the top-four after an early setback in the season-opening defeat to Collingwood.

King's productive start to the season has resulted in 13 goals over four games and a share of the Coleman Medal lead with Geelong's Tom Hawkins.

Saints captain Jack Steele this week predicted King is closing in on a "bag" and fellow key forward Tim Membrey agrees.

It could come for the in-form forward as soon as Saturday's clash with Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium.

"He knows he's a good player now," Membrey told AAP.

"He had a good pre-season and built his endurance to run out games and compete (and produce) second and third efforts.

"He's just playing with immense confidence and kicking the ball beautifully and it's certainly giving us a massive lift.

"When your big key forward's up and going it gives everyone confidence."

The Saints-Suns fixture was robbed of its biggest selling point in February when King's twin brother Ben suffered a knee injury that put a line through his 2022 campaign.

Ben King was Gold Coast's leading goal-kicker with 47 majors last year, more than double the tally of his nearest teammate.

Off-season recruits Mabior Chol and Levi Casboult have picked up the slack in a new-look forward line, with Touk Miller, Noah Anderson and Lachie Weller also shining in the Suns' 2-2 start.

Their upset of Carlton in round four has put the competition on notice.

"They're an exciting team with some really good midfielders and some really hard-running players off half-back," Membrey said.

"They're certainly going to challenge us through the corridor, I'd imagine, and they've got some big targets up forward.

"Hopefully we can play our brand of footy and get the win."

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