St Kilda coach Ross Lyon is adamant his club will continue to support spearhead Max King as the Haileybury product continues to fight for continuity with his body.
King's season is over, after he failed to finish his return game against North Melbourne on the weekend, due to a hamstring injury.
Ross Lyon, in speaking to Fox Footy's AFL360 program, offered a glimpse into the psyche of his perennially injured star.
"He's really devastated, and his main concern was that he'd let the club and the team down," Lyon said.
"'Shame' is too strong a word, but he feels embarrassed, and he asked, "have you guys had enough of me?"
King is on a long-term contract, slated for completion at the conclusion of the 2032 season, but has managed just one game this season, and only 84 in the almost seven seasons since being taken in the first round of the 2019 National Draft.
Lyon assured King he has the club's support.
"We're in. He'll do a full pre-season; he's in, we're in, his family's in. In the context of life, this is at the low end of catastrophe," he said.
It was put to Lyon, however, that in a footy context, it's at the high end, such is the back catalogue of injuries King has sustained over the journey.
"I just want him happy and healthy, to be honest," Lyon finished.
