St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has confirmed Max King will spend another week in the VFL in a bid to return from a spate of injuries across the past two seasons.
King played on managed minutes in the VFL last week, which was his first game since Round 16, 2024, registering four disposals, one mark and one behind.
The star Saint will travel to Ikon Park to face Carlton on Saturday in the VFL, and is expected to increase his playing loads.
"We were thrilled he was back out there," Lyon said.
"He's really confident in himself and his ability to contribute. He would've played last week, to be honest, if he could've picked the team.
"That's great. But we have got people at the moment in form, and we'll keep working with Max. When it is and what it looks like, I don't know.
"It's not about kicking goals. It's about protecting him from soft-tissue because it's such a ramp, so your progressions, you really have to manage."
Small forward Lance Collard is available for selection this week after a tumultuous month that led to multiple appeals at the Tribunal and Appeals Board over the alleged use of a homophobic slur.
Collard was sidelined for strike during a Frankston VFL clash, but was found guilty for the remark.
The young Saint had his initial nine-week suspension reduced to four weeks, of which two were suspended.
Lyon also clarified the "resignation" consideration following the offensive comment he made earlier in April that was directed towards Indigenous players at the club.
The Saints coach conceded he made an error, and was held to account by the likes of Brad Hill and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
Lyon confirmed it was dealt with correctly, led by the players, and didn't need the intervention from CEO Carl Dilena, who admitted earlier in the week that he didn't learn of the incident weeks after it occurred.
"All relationships are built on trust ... so the context of that was, 'If you don't think I can rebuild the trust, I would consider my position'," Lyon said.
"It wasn't a 'take it' (offer of resignation) ... so that was the nuance to it. I think that's really important."
Liam Ryan will miss Saturday's Round 8 clash against the Blues.
