Tortured St Kilda spearhead Max King’s horror injury run has continued, with his first AFL game in 757 days ending prematurely due to hamstring tightness.

King’s latest setback in a torturous period for the 26-year-old marred the Saints’ 31-point win over fellow wildcard contender North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, including a four-goal-to-one final quarter that transformed a competitive contest into a comfortable victory.

Resident superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was the difference again, kicking three of his four goals after going forward in the third quarter as part of a 46-disposal outburst that ripped the match away from the Kangaroos.

King had just one kick – a long set shot from the boundary in the second quarter – and one handball in limited game time, but left the ground for good only 13 minutes into the third term. He went to the rooms soon after and did not reappear before the Saints ruled him out.

King’s last game action was in a VFL match in May where he sustained a hamstring strain that added to the knee and calf setbacks that have stalled a promising career that was stuck on 83 games for more than two years.

Speaking post-match to SEN, St Kilda veteran Brad Hill was hopeful King had avoided another lengthy lay-off.

“Fingers crossed because if it is [serious], it’s so sad,” Hill said. “It’s been a tough journey for him the last couple of years, so I’m hoping nothing bad has happened.”

King started every quarter on the bench on Sunday and came on after the seven-minute mark each time. North Melbourne defenders Charlie Comben and Aidan Corr took turns playing on him, and rarely afforded him much space.

His most notable impact was a forceful collision with Cam Zurhaar that cost the big Saint a 50-metre penalty after the Kangaroo reeled in an intercept mark.

King’s nightmare period started with a season-ending posterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee in a two-point loss to Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on June 30, 2024.

The star forward signed a six-year contract extension in October that year to tie him to the Saints until 2032, but endured repeated injury complications since, including three surgeries on his right knee last year after a pre-season setback.

King’s trouble continued with a calf injury in February before a hamstring strain in his second VFL match of the season in May delayed his return further.

He spent part of his latest rehabilitation block on the Gold Coast, enabling him to spent time with his twin Ben, and St Kilda opted to bring him straight into the senior side.

The Saints also lost Cooper Sharman (managed) and Rowan Marshall (back spasms) as late withdrawals, the latter after completing the warm-up.

Dashers Hill (34 disposals) and Darcy Wilson (28) were other prominent players for St Kilda, while ruckman Tom De Koning (19, seven clearances) shone in his return from broken ribs and a punctured lung.

They led by 16 points at quarter-time – benefiting from a series of wayward North Melbourne set shots – but the Roos hit the front early in the second half from the second of Jack Darling’s three goals.

But thanks to their 41-23 clearance dominance, the Saints hit back to lead by 13 points at the final break before kicking away for an important triumph that leaves them in 10th position with a 9-10 record.

More to come