Injury-plagued St Kilda spearhead Max King doesn't yet have a clear timeline on his recovery but is confident he will return to bolster his side's AFL finals push this season.
King, who signed a monster six-year contract extension last October, is yet to play a game this year after suffering a knee injury during a practice match in February.
The 24-year-old underwent a second arthroscope last month and remains sidelined indefinitely as the Saints (4-4) prepare to take on Carlton (3-5) at the MCG on Friday night.
"I will play again this year," King said on Thursday.
"We just don't know exactly what week that looks like, but I'm really optimistic now that we're on top of it all.
"It's just a matter of reconditioning everything and getting it all up to speed.
"I'm looking forward to when that all happens."
King said there was "something in the knee that was catching" which was preventing him from training and playing before his latest surgery.
But he is "extremely confident" the issue is now behind him.
"It's a hard space to be in when it's a guessing game and you're not sure whether you've really sorted it out, but I feel like we've finally got there," King said.
"It took us a while. It is a shame to miss more footy but I'm definitely on the way back now."
King, who sat out his first year at St Kilda in 2019 with a knee injury, kicked a career-best 52 goals in 2022.
But he was restricted to just 11 games the following season and 12 last year as a series of injury setbacks took their toll.
King's most recent appearance was in a loss to Port Adelaide in June last year.
"It's tough at times," he said.
"I love playing footy and love playing for St Kilda.
"When you're a footballer who's not playing football, it's not very fun.
"But I've got amazing people around me, the club's been so supportive and I feel like I'm in a good space with everything.
"It's easier when there's a bit of light at the end of the tunnel now and I feel like I'm working towards something."
King spoke to media at the launch of Spud's Ride, a 24-hour cycling relay around the MCG in honour of late St Kilda champion Danny Frawley.
Funds raised go towards mental health programs and research.
"I could get on the bike, but I wouldn't be of much use," King said.
"I'd be going pretty slowly at the moment, but it's an amazing cause and a really good initiative.
"There's not many people who aren't touched by mental health so it's a really important issue and especially in men, who tend to not open up as much."
