Saints resigned to King's long-term AFL absence
Ross Lyon is resigned to St Kilda star Max King being sidelined until late this season, again stressing that it's short-term pain for a long-term AFL career.
Pointing to GWS's Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan and retired Brisbane premiership star Joe Daniher, Lyon said King is another key forward who will need time to overcome injury before he hits his peak.
Similarly, Lyon said before Thursday training that they will be careful with young gun Matheas Phillipou, who is on the verge of playing again for the first time this year after recovering from stress reaction in his leg.
Asked when Phillipou might be ready for the AFL, Lyon replied it was a "really good question".
Phillipou, King and Dougal Howard (shoulder) are all yet to play this season, with Howard set to return on Saturday against Brisbane at Marvel Stadium.
King needed more surgery last week after a setback in his recovery from a pre-season knee injury.
He was at the club on Thursday morning, with a bandage on his right knee.
The Saints said last week that King's likely time out would be six weeks and Lyon expects an AFL return will not happen quickly after that.
"It's going to be a fair period of time - you're not going to see Max until the late end of the season," Lyon said.
"And that's okay. Is it disappointing for Max and us? Yes. But we have a power forward and he had a great summer.
"The knee is structurally sound, so it gives him a clear runway, whenever that is."
As he did last week, Lyon said St Kilda would be patient in managing King.
"You look at Daniher, you look at Hogan - Max is 24," Lyon said.
"When you think of Daniher and Hogan, they hit their peak around 29-31, because of all their challenges.
"Gee whiz, if Max could have a good run at it, I think he's going to hit his straps well before 29."
Howard will be a welcome return as the Saints try to rebound quickly from last weekend's bad loss to the Western Bulldogs.
"Doug's a really good chance. (fellow defender Cal) Wilkie would love to have him back," Lyon said.
"It gives us a real opportunity with (Anthony) Caminiti - does he go forward, and we're a bit bigger and stronger?
"We've been a bit small, either end (of the ground)."
While the Saints were poor against the Bulldogs, they have beaten preliminary finalists Geelong and Port Adelaide this season.
Now they face Brisbane, who also lost badly to Collingwood last week, but have won 20 of their last 23 games.
"You just have to bring your own DNA to the game. We fell down around the ball last week - (where) we've been really good," Lyon said.
"We respect them and they're formidable, but we know we have to be at our absolute best with our system and effort."
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