St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has played down the significance of Max King undergoing hamstring surgery, saying it wasn't a tendon-related problem.
King's season from hell officially ended on July 26 when he strained his hamstring in what was his first AFL match since 2024.
The 26-year-old has undergone surgery to fix the issue, but Lyon said it wasn't anything too serious and is backing the injury-prone spearhead to be up and running in time for a strong off-season.
"Well, it was a strained hamstring," Lyon said on Thursday.
"There's certain parts of the hamstring that need a slight intervention and take out risk going forward of a recurrence, so that's what's occurred.
"I mean, you've got 20-year AFL orthopaedic surgeons making decisions, and our club doctor. So it's best care. I wouldn't read too much into it (the surgery).
"Around the league, Jamie Elliott's had the same operation. Nick Coffield, Liam Henry. It just becomes a normal rehab.
"By the end of the season going to the break, he'll be in full training. So yeah, there's nothing untoward here. It certainly wasn't a tendon."
756 days out the game, Max King is back! pic.twitter.com/tPdDAgomAF
— Saints Nation (@SaintsNationAU) July 26, 2026
King, whose career has been stalled by serious knee and shoulder issues, was so devastated by his latest injury he was given permission to go home before the end of St Kilda's 31-point win over North Melbourne.
It was his second hamstring strain of the season, and Lyon said there were "no regrets" about chucking him straight back into AFL ranks the second time around rather than easing him through the VFL.
Lyon revealed he has had an in-depth catch-up with the 84-game forward to show his support.
"I've been over to his house, had some bacon blue bread, had a cinnamon scroll, had a good chat about life, offered plenty of support," Lyon said.
"He knows we're in his corner. He sees the light. We'll see the other side of this."
Lyon said the AFL was littered with key forwards overcoming injury adversity, reeling off names like Charlie Curnow, Joe Daniher and Alastair Lynch as proof of how players can come back strongly from devastating setbacks.
"There's plenty of people that miss two years," Lyon said.
St Kilda (9-11) will be fighting to stay in the wildcard round mix when they face a resurgent Carlton (10-10) at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Blues interim coach Josh Fraser has led his team to nine wins from 11 games in charge, including last week's 76-point mauling of Brisbane.
It led to Lyon throwing Fraser's hat in the ring for the coach of the year award.
