Max King Returns in St Kilda's 96-61 VFL Loss to Gold Coast
Max King returned to action in St Kilda's Round 5 VFL clash with Gold Coast at RSEA Park after 665 days on the sidelines. The spearhead played limited minutes, but his first game at any level since Round 16, 2024 gave St Kilda a senior forward option again.
King Back at RSEA Park
King's first look at the contest came early. He threw himself into a groundball contest in the opening term, then took a clean mark on the lead moments later. In short bursts, he competed hard and gave St Kilda's ball users a target they had not had for a long stretch.
The return carried extra weight because of the time away. King had not played at any level since Round 16, 2024, and the 665-day layoff made even a short outing a meaningful step for a forward line that has had to manage without him.
Gold Coast Seizes Control
St Kilda led early in the second quarter through a Jayden Davey finish out of congestion, but Gold Coast answered with the next six scoring shots and built the buffer that decided the match. The Suns finished with a 96-61 win, leaving St Kilda's VFL record at 1-4.
Tobie Travaglia added a bright moment when he moved to the midfield in the third term and kicked an impressive goal from outside the arc. Jack Macrae set the standard for the Saints' effort with 31 disposals, nine tackles and five clearances, while Paddy Dow added 25 disposals and eight clearances. Alix Tauru also stood out with 10 intercepts and eight marks.
Saints Shape Round 6
Other Saints kept the numbers moving, too. Liam Henry finished with 15 disposals and one goal, while Kye Fincher posted 31 disposals, Angus Hastie had 30 and Hugh Boxshall added 23. Those totals did not turn the result, but they did give St Kilda a clearer read on its depth after King's return.
For now, the biggest change is simple: King is back in the selection picture after more than 22 months out of the game. St Kilda's next VFL match is against Carlton at IKON Park on Saturday, and the club now has one more senior option to weigh before those Round 6 calls are made.
