Max King Injury: What Happened to St Kilda’s Star Forward

When a 202 cm forward who kicked 46 goals in his best season suddenly vanishes from the field, fans start asking tough questions. Max King, St Kilda’s key spearhead, hasn’t played an AFL game since June 2024, and the 2025 season – his age‑25 year – slipped away because of a stubborn knee injury.

Full name: Max King ·
Date of birth: 7 July 2000 ·
Height: 202 cm ·
Weight: 90 kg ·
Club: St Kilda Football Club ·
Position: Forward

Eight key facts about Max King, drawn from official club and league sources.

What has happened to Max King?

Max King’s knee injury

• St Kilda confirmed on 27 February 2025 that King underwent an exploratory arthroscope on his right knee after recurring pain that began during an intra‑club game on 7 February 2025 (St Kilda Football Club official update).
• The club had tried non‑surgical management for almost a month before the procedure (ABC News).
• On 23 June 2025, AFL.com.au reported that King was ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season after surgery to repair damage on the medial aspect of his right knee.
• Earlier in February, he had also suffered a low‑grade calf injury that delayed his return by two to three weeks (ESPN).

St Kilda’s official update

The club’s statement in February stressed that the exploratory arthroscope “would not cause major delays” to King’s 2025 campaign, but he remained touch and go for Round 1 (St Kilda FC). By June, the prognosis had worsened, and King was placed on the long‑term injury list.

Rehab timeline

• 2024: Last AFL appearance in Round 16 (30 June 2024) – AFL.com.au
• 2025: Entire season missed (knee surgery) – ESPN
• December 2025: Another knee operation – same source
• April 2026: Tracking a possible return in Round 7 against West Coast – AFL.com.au

The implication: St Kilda’s forward line will remain in flux until King proves he can string together a healthy stretch.

Is Max King religious?

Max King’s personal beliefs

There is no widely reported public information about Max King’s religious beliefs. He has not made any verified public statements regarding faith or religion in interviews, on social media, or through club communications. This gap is common among AFL players who keep their private lives away from the spotlight.

Public statements on faith

A search of major Australian sports media and his official club profile reveals zero references to religion. The lack of information means any claim about his faith is speculative.

The pattern: personal faith is not part of King’s public identity, leaving room only for speculation.

Who is Max King’s dad?

Family background

The identity of Max King’s father is not publicly confirmed in mainstream sources. Neither his Wikipedia page nor the St Kilda player profile list the names of his parents. Max and his twin brother Ben King share the same parents, but media reports consistently refer only to the twins’ mother in passing.

Influence on his career

Both brothers started playing AFL as juniors in Victoria and were drafted in the same year. Their father’s role, if any, in their development has not been discussed in any verified interview or feature story. This is a notable gap in the public narrative of two top‑10 draft picks.

What this means: the absence of father information contrasts with the high profile of the King twins, but reflects the family’s preference for privacy.

How much is Max King getting paid?

Contract details

Exact salary figures for Max King are not publicly disclosed. AFL player salaries are generally kept confidential; only league‑wide salary cap totals and a few marquee deals are ever confirmed. Estimates range from $500,000 to $800,000 per season, but these are speculative (ESPN).

Salary cap implications

Because King missed the entire 2025 season, St Kilda likely had salary cap relief via the long‑term injury replacement rule. The exact amount saved has not been published, but it helps the Saints manage without their highest‑paid forward.

The catch: if King cannot return to full fitness, the cap space that was freed may prove insufficient to replace his on-field impact.

Are Ben and Max King identical twins?

Similarities and differences in their AFL careers

Ben and Max King are twin brothers, but official sources do not specify whether they are identical or fraternal. Both play professional AFL, but for different clubs: Max at St Kilda, Ben at Gold Coast Suns. Their physical similarity (both are tall, lean forwards) suggests they may be identical, but no genetic confirmation exists.

Three key similarities and differences across their careers:

The pattern is clear: both are elite key forwards, but Ben has remained durable while Max has struggled with two major knee surgeries.

The contrast in durability defines their career trajectories so far.

Timeline signal

The timeline confirms that King’s absence is now measured in years, not months.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

This balance shows that while the medical facts are firm, King’s personal life remains largely off the record.

Quotes from the key sources

“Max underwent an exploratory arthroscope on his right knee to investigate recurring pain that had been managed conservatively for almost a month. The procedure should not cause major delays to his 2025 campaign.”
– St Kilda Football Club, official injury update (27 February 2025)

“King has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after surgery to repair damage on the medial aspect of his right knee.”
– AFL.com.au (23 June 2025)

The contrast between the early optimism and the later severity underscores how quickly King’s condition changed.

For St Kilda, the cost of Max King’s repeated knee issues goes beyond missed games. The club has invested a top‑four draft pick and years of development into a forward who has played only about 70 games in seven seasons. The choice now is clear: manage his workload carefully through the 2026 pre‑season, or risk losing another year of a player who could be a 50‑goal‑per‑season difference‑maker. St Kilda must decide whether to continue betting on King’s recovery or to seek alternative options.

Frequently asked questions