King up for tackling Giants

But injury hanging over fellow Saint Steele

St Kilda captain Jack Steele says Max King proved his fitness for this weekend’s clash against GWS with a monster training session last Sunday.

But the Saints inside midfielder admits he is doubtful for that contest after suffering a medial ligament sprain against Adelaide that could have been so much worse.

King still has to get through training this week to make his season debut but will replace the concussed Tim Membrey after overcoming a shoulder reconstruction and a hamstring strain. He is back in the nick of time given St Kilda’s 52point loss to Port Adelaide, with Steele saying coach Ross Lyon had continued his mood of positivity despite the heavy nature of that defeat.

Saints captain and Kayo ambassador Steele said on Monday King had clearly done enough to push for selection on Thursday.

“He is right to go. He got through a big session on Sunday. So he has ticked the box and he has put his hand up for selection,” he said.

“So that will be a decision that Ross will make during the week. I am sure I know which way it will go. We need big Maxy back, it will be good to have him back.

“We are all excited to have a big tall target to kick to. He needs to get through the week but he got through that last session so I can’t wait.

“We have had to learn how to play without him for the first part of the year. Last year we were maybe relying on him too much.

“When we got the ball outside 50 we would bang it in to him which was predictable. So it will be interesting to see how it comes together and how we use him.”

Steele will attempt to train this week but says he dodged an injury bullet given he could so easily have torn his ACL as he attempted to tackle Rory Sloane but instead got his leg caught in that collision.

“It’s just a little medial strain. Tomorrow we will go in for a review and do some skills so that will give us an idea,” he said.

“If we can get through that I will try to train Friday but if it feels a little uncomfortable I don’t we are going to push it too far.

“At this stage it feels all right so I feel like I would be able to get through a bit of a light flush (session) and jog around tomorrow so we will see how we go.

“I fell to the ground and tried to pick the ball up and almost tried to tackle him from the ground which put me in a position where my legs were in between his legs as he was trying to kick the footy.

“I have had a look at the vision and it could have been a lot worse.

“So I am grateful that it is what it is. I have found it hard mentally just dealing with a sore knee the last few days. I couldn’t imagine what 12 months out would do for me.”