St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has provided more context to spearhead Max King's persistent knee problems, which resulted in a minor arthroscopic procedure.
King has not played at AFL level since Round 16, 2024 and missed the entirety of last season due to a right knee issue.
The Saints concluded that the former Pick 4 will return to full training in January, with Lyon getting on the front foot.
"Our view if there's been an oil spill, there's an oil spill, so don't try to hide it, report it,” Lyon said on the Don't Shoot The Messenger podcast.
"He went in for an arthroscope. He had his meniscus lateral cartilage repaired, and they're a low percentage to work.
"But for his long-term health and career, that's the way the club went."
King missed the entirety of his debut season with a knee injury and has had shoulder troubles throughout his journey, limiting his output to 83 games since he was drafted in 2018.
But Lyon is adamant that the 25-year-old's fortunes will turn, and he'll have more successful football to come.
"It's been really tough. First day I got there, they did a 3km (run), and then someone pulled his arm out of his socket, and he went in for a reconstruction," Lyon added.
"The bottom line is he'll be in full training at the back of January.
"So it's not great, he'll have a plastic knee in the end. But he'll get five, six, eight, nine years of great footy.
"So the club did the right thing. It was unlikely to work, but we gave it a chance.
"Now they just trim the cartilage, he'll be running in a week. He's really every chance to be Round 1 (Opening Round), so it's not complicated.
"But he's been to hell and back."
