Opinion
The first four rounds of the AFL season, and one man, has inspired me to write for the first time since the beginning of March 2020.
Max King has not done anything spectacular. He has not revolutionised the game. He’s not even the best or most important player at St Kilda.
But the fate of the club over the next decade is in his hands and on his boots.
Is that too much pressure to put on the back of a 21-year-old who’s yet to play 50 games, hasn’t kicked 100 goals and has already had multiple knee issues?
After a quiet Round 1, King has kicked 12 goals in three games. Not spectacular but it’s when these goals occurred that should excite every Saints fan.
He turned the games against Fremantle and Richmond, arguably breaking the spirit of the Dockers in 180 seconds of game time in Round 2, and doing similar against the Tigers.
He is there when the game is to be won. And he could have easily kicked more.
The criticism of him in 2020 was that he disappeared for large portions of the game. A lot of this was teams double or triple teaming him, but it was also to do with him learning more forward craft. He is still quiet for large portions of games, but now he re-emerges with a loud dominance that makes defences uneasy – especially late in a game, when structures break down.
King, the only man in the AFL who can pull off a mo and not look ridiculous, is pulling the Saints out of the doldrums they were in last year.
He is the man most likely to kick 100 goals in a season, and possibly the next most likely to give 1000 in a career a nudge.
Lance Franklin of the Swans celebrates kicking his 1000th AFL goal. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
But more than that, he’s given St Kilda something they haven’t had since Fraser Gherig was dominating the forward line: a focal point.
As good as Nick Reiwoldt was, and as good as Jack Steele is, there’s something about a key forward who can demand the ball, who can put the emphasis on a passage of play. Listen to the crowd over the last two weeks in particular.
When King started dominating, the crowd rose to him. When he got near the ball the crowd lifted. When the midfield was streaking forward all eyes turned to see where King was leading too.
This is the power of the key forward. And Max King has this power.
What the rest of the season will bring cannot be known. But with a competent midfield and Max King not getting any shorter, he has to be one of the favourites (if not the favourite) for the Coleman Medal. And maybe a ten-goal haul isn’t that far off either.
Even if neither happen, this will still be the season that Saints fans remember because of the emergence of Max King, a man already anointed by Paddy Ryder as the GOAT.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
Amid all the hysteria and gnashing of teeth that accompanies any team following a particular galling loss, it's worth remembering at all times that…
Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
Geelong has been crafty and creative in its list management and has quietly assembled a very exciting young group of midfielders and half-forwards.
Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale will be looking to lead his team to a victory against Melbourne in what will be his 250th AFL game.
It’s high stakes with five teams having lost their first three games of season 2024, and in desperate need of a win.
