St Kilda star Max King is in doubt to start the 2026 AFL season after it was revealed he had surgery again on his troublesome right knee.
In an injury press release, the Saints revealed King had undergone surgery but would be in full training by the end of the next month.
"Max King has also undergone a minor procedure on his knee however is expected to be back in full training end of January," St Kilda's injury report said.
If King returns to full training at the end of January, it will only be five weeks until the Saints start their AFL season in Opening Round against Collingwood on March 8.
A lack of pre-season for a player who hasn't played for nearly two years will likely see St Kilda show caution with his reintroduction to senior football.
King didn't play a match in 2025 because of his right knee issues and hasn't played since June 30, 2024 in a Round 16 loss to Port Adelaide.
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He signed an eight-year contract in October 2024, but is yet to don Saints colours since committing to that deal.
King has had a variety of issues with his right knee, including the medial area, which he had surgery on halfway through the recent season.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has been confident King will return and was focused on the long term when he spoke about the key forward earlier this year.
"We're looking it will be six weeks, roughly, from here. But I said to Max, and this is for all our supporters, it's not about six weeks — it's about six years, " Lyon said in April.
"Surgeons just don't want to slice people up for the sake of it. Structurally, it's really sound, but that needed to be done."