Bad news for Saints, All-Australian Dog sidelined
The key forward's inability to recover from his pre-season injury has been a disaster for the Saints, who are in the bottom four after Saturday night's fighting loss to Collingwood.
Also on Monday, Saints young gun Mattaes Phillipou reportedly is out for several weeks. He was distraught after aggravating a lower-leg injury only minutes before of the start of the Collingwood game and was a late withdrawal.
And the Western Bulldogs have lost All-Australian Adam Treloar for six weeks with another calf muscle injury.
Treloar was hurt in the first half of Sunday's win over Richmond and coach Luke Beveridge said there was "significant concern" about the midfielder's latest setback.
King has not played since round 17 last year, but the Saints had been hopeful he would return before the end of this season.
He has already needed two operations on his right knee because of the initial injury during a February practice match.
The Saints re-signed King to a six-year deal last season, taking him to 2032.
In a statement, the club said Monday's surgery was on damage to the medial aspect of the knee, which had caused "occasional but persistent" pain.
The Saints are also adamant they have been baffled by King's ongoing problems.
"Max's case has not been simple nor linear, and we've attempted to adequately keep our members and fans up to date while maintaining Max's privacy," said Saints football boss Dave Misson.
"We have also been dealing with a medical situation that has often confounded the many medical experts we have consulted. "About 10 days ago, as Max was closing in on a return to football, he felt a clunking in his knee - the same knee that has been causing him trouble throughout this season. "This was as surprising as it was frustrating, as all indications were that Max's most recent arthroscope had addressed this issue."
That meant more consultations and scans, leading to Monday's surgery.
"We feel the cause of Max's issue has been pinpointed and that damage to the medial aspect of his knee, in certain situations, was impeding his movement and causing pain," Misson said.
"The operation aimed to address and repair this issue. It will see Max off-legs for several months, however, will allow him to be ready for the commencement of pre-season."
Meanwhile, the AFL website reported Phillipou would be out for several weeks after his plantaris tendon injury flared again before Saturday night's match.
Phillipou was a late scratching when he felt sharp pain in his calf while warming up.
Injuries have restricted him to only four games this season.
Treloar has only played four games in 2025 after last year's All-Australian honours.
The Bulldogs confirmed he has a moderate-grade calf strain and ruled him out for six weeks.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former Australian cricketer, captain and coach Bob Simpson dies at age 89
SYDNEY (AP) — Bob Simpson, a former player, captain and coach and one of the most influential figures in Australian cricket, has died at the age of 89. Cricket Australia on Saturday confirmed the death of Simpson, who represented Australia in 62 tests and two one-day internationals between 1957 and 1978. Simpson scored 4,869 test runs, including 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, and took 71 wickets, while captaining Australia in 39 tests. Simpson was just 16 when he made his first-class debut for New South Wales state against Victoria. He also coached Australia from 1986 to 1996 and under his firm and steady guidance, Australia won the 1987 World Cup, four Ashes campaigns and in 1995 the Frank Worrell Trophy, ending a 17-year drought against the West Indies. Cricket Australia said the Australian team will pay tribute to Simpson with a moment's silence before Saturday night's one-day international against South Africa at Cairns in northern Australia and will also wear black armbands. Simpson made his test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1957, and his first century came in an Ashes test at Old Trafford in 1964, when Simpson went on to score 311. He is one of only seven Australians to make a triple-century. He was also one of the greatest slip-fielders, taking 110 catches. Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first to pay tribute to Simpson. 'Bob Simpson's extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations. As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest standards for himself and the champions he led,' Albanese wrote on X. 'He will be long remembered by the game he loved. May he rest in peace.' Simpson was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013. 'As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slips fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach." Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird said in a statement. 'Bob's decision to come out of retirement to successfully lead the Australian team during the advent of World Series cricket in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden era for Australian cricket." ___ AP cricket:
CBS News
25 minutes ago
- CBS News
Phillies closer Jhoan Duran's X-Rays come back negative after right ankle scare, team says
Jhoan Duran entered a game in a non-save situation for the first time since the Philadelphia Phillies acquired the star closer from Minnesota at the trade deadline. Four pitches later, Duran was limping and needed a ride off the field. Duran took a comebacker off the outer part of his right ankle in the ninth inning of Philly's 6-2 win at Washington on Friday night. After the game, the Phillies said X-rays on the burly right-hander were negative. He will be evaluated further on Saturday. "Obviously a bad spot to get hit," Phillies star Bryce Harper said. Pitching with a four-run lead after four days off, Duran began the ninth by facing Paul DeJong, who hit a sharp grounder to the mound. The ball deflected off Duran's ankle and into foul territory for a single. "He ran like a shot over there to retrieve the ball and then once he got there, I think the adrenaline wore off," manager Rob Thomson said. "The pain set in." Duran began limping as he approached the foul line and had trouble putting weight on his right foot. After a lengthy visit by team trainers, he took a seat in the Nationals' bullpen cart and was driven away. "He actually said, 'I feel better, I think I can walk over to the dugout,'" said Thomson, who described the cart as a precaution given the long staircase that leads to the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park. "I mean, he's 240 pounds. I don't want to be carrying him up the stairs." Duran is 4-for-4 in save opportunities with the Phillies. David Robertson relieved him and gave up a double to Luis García Jr., then retired the next three batters to prevent Duran from being charged with a run for the first time since the trade. The 27-year-old Duran has a 1.86 ERA and 20 saves this season, and the National League East-leading Phillies need him if they want to make a deep October run. "You just kind keep your fingers crossed there," slugger Kyle Schwarber said, "and hope that it's nothing super serious."
Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Former Australian cricketer, captain and coach Bob Simpson dies at age 89
SYDNEY (AP) — Bob Simpson, a former player, captain and coach and one of the most influential figures in Australian cricket, has died at the age of 89. Cricket Australia on Saturday confirmed the death of Simpson, who represented Australia in 62 tests and two one-day internationals between 1957 and 1978. Simpson scored 4,869 test runs, including 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, and took 71 wickets, while captaining Australia in 39 tests. Simpson was just 16 when he made his first-class debut for New South Wales state against Victoria. He also coached Australia from 1986 to 1996 and under his firm and steady guidance, Australia won the 1987 World Cup, four Ashes campaigns and in 1995 the Frank Worrell Trophy, ending a 17-year drought against the West Indies. Cricket Australia said the Australian team will pay tribute to Simpson with a moment's silence before Saturday night's one-day international against South Africa at Cairns in northern Australia and will also wear black armbands. Simpson made his test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1957, and his first century came in an Ashes test at Old Trafford in 1964, when Simpson went on to score 311. He is one of only seven Australians to make a triple-century. He was also one of the greatest slip-fielders, taking 110 catches. Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the first to pay tribute to Simpson. 'Bob Simpson's extraordinary service to Australian cricket spanned generations. As a player, captain and then era-defining coach, he set the highest standards for himself and the champions he led,' Albanese wrote on X. 'He will be long remembered by the game he loved. May he rest in peace.' Simpson was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013. 'As a brilliant opening batter, incredible slips fielder and handy spin bowler, Bob was a mainstay of a very strong Australian team in the 1960s, and he became a leader across the game as Australian and New South Wales captain and as a coach.' Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird said in a statement. 'Bob's decision to come out of retirement to successfully lead the Australian team during the advent of World Series cricket in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden era for Australian cricket.' ___ AP cricket:
