Max King’s AFL return cut short by hamstring tightness after 757-day absence

Tortured St Kilda spearhead Max King’s disastrous injury run has continued, with his first AFL game in 757 days ending prematurely due to hamstring tightness.The 26-year-old had one kick – a long set shot from the boundary in the second quarter – and one handball in limited game time, but left the ground for good only 13 minutes into the third term. King went to the rooms soon after and did not reappear before the Saints ruled him out.Max King in full flight during Sunday’s match.AFL Photos via Getty ImagesKing started every quarter on the bench and came on after the seven-minute mark each time. North Melbourne defenders Charlie Comben and Aidan Corr took turns playing on him, and rarely afforded him much space.His most notable impact was a forceful collision with Cam Zurhaar that cost the big Saint a 50-metre penalty after the Kangaroo reeled in an intercept mark.King was playing his first AFL game in more than two years, after a horror period that started with a season-ending posterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee in a two-point loss to Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on June 30, 2024.The star forward signed a six-year contract extension in October that year to tie him to the Saints until 2032, but endured repeated injury complications since, including three surgeries on his right knee last year after a pre-season setback.The nightmare continued with a calf injury in February before a hamstring strain in his second VFL match in May delayed his return further.King spent part of his latest rehabilitation block on the Gold Coast, enabling him to spent time with his twin Ben, and this time St Kilda opted to bring him straight into the senior side.Cooper Sharman (managed) and Rowan Marshall (back spasms) were also late withdrawals for the Saints, the latter after completing the warm-up.More to comeMore:AFL 2026St Kilda SaintsNorth Melbourne KangaroosAFL injury wardFrom our partners