St Kilda forward ruled out for season after suffering hamstring strain in return game
Updated ,first published
Summary of football news from today’s AFL Briefing:
- Max King suffered a season-ending hamstring strain on Sunday.
- Brisbane man Ty Gallop will face serious misconduct charges.
Max King will not play again until at least next year, with St Kilda confirming he has suffered a season-ending left hamstring strain in the return game on Sunday.
It was a devastating blow for the star forward, who had not played at AFL level for 757 days before the latest defeat but has suffered a hamstring injury twice this year, including in a VFL game in May.
Saints coach Ross Lyon defended the club’s decision to play King in the senior team and skip the VFL this time, but he will now have made one appearance in three seasons after a difficult run that included both knee and calf problems.
King left Sunday’s win over North Melbourne midway through the third quarter and did not return.
St Kilda football boss Lenny Hayes said: “This is an incredibly disappointing result for Max, who has done everything possible throughout his rehabilitation to put himself in the best position to return.”
“He is an incredibly important part of our football club and we will continue to keep our arms around him and provide him with all the support he needs as we deal with this latest setback.
“Our focus now is to ensure Max has a full pre-season to enable him to return and play consistent senior football in 2027.”
King signed a six-year contract extension in October 2024, tying him to the Saints until the end of the 2032 season.
Aslan to face serious misconduct charges
Scott Spits
Brisbane Lions defender Ty Gallop has been sent straight to the AFL Tribunal to face serious misconduct charges after pushing his opponent’s head onto the pitch at the Gabba on Sunday.
The AFL’s match review officer used provisions in the AFL’s guidelines to refer the case directly to the court without providing classifications of conduct, influence or conduct.
The controversial incident took place in the second quarter. Gallop’s choice to attack Port Adelaide’s Mitch Georgiades was described as a “stupid act” by former Brisbane great Alastair Lynch.
“We’ve been singing the praises of Ty Gallop, especially over the last half-dozen weeks,” Lynch said on Fox Footy.
“But it’s just a stupid move. We don’t want to see that. Mitch had some issues with concussion.
“We do not want to see such actions”
