Although the former first round draftee has long been linked at inking an extension, Max King officially put pen to paper on a four-year deal with St Kilda.
The reportedly rich deal will see the local talent remain at his boyhood club until after the completion of the 2026 season and his 26th birthday.
Prior to this new agreement, King was still contracted to the club until the end of the 2022.
Despite his age (20) and relative inexperience at the level (30 games), King has been the Saints' prime target inside 50, having taken 58 grabs inside the arc across his two-years in the competition.
It's official.
Max King will call RSEA Park home until at least the end of 2026 after signing a four-year contract extension.
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) June 19, 2021
In a statement released by the club on Saturday morning, the head of list management at Moorabbin James Gallagher heaped praise on the level-headed forward.
โWeโre thrilled to have Max commit to the club for the long term,โ he said.
โMax is obviously a talented player and is already performing at a very high level considering this is only his second year of AFL Football. He is also a very driven young man, and we are extremely confident heโll only continue to grow into an elite key forward in the coming years.
โThereโs a lot of external expectation that has been placed on his shoulders, but the way heโs handled it โ even before he was drafted โ is a credit to his maturity and diligence.โ
King has attracted attention this season for his inaccuracy in front of goal, as his 38 scoring shots have only registered 16 majors. However, the Sandringham Dragons product did manage more than a goal a game - 22 from 18 - across the condensed 2020 season.
Max shares the news with his biggest (little) fan, Mac. pic.twitter.com/wg03p4MTAg
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) June 19, 2021
St Kilda's football operations assistant and Hawthorn legend Jarryd Roughead explained that although King is far from the finished product, his effect on games has been conspicuous.
โWorking alongside Max for the past two years, Iโve been able to see how much heโs grown and the work he puts in behind the scenes,โ Roughead said.
โWhatโs really promising is how Max is influencing the game, either by taking marks, bringing the ball to ground or hitting the scoreboard, and we know the best is yet to come.
โThese key position players take time to develop but overall, we are really happy with where Max is at and where heโs heading.โ
After playing every game possible since returning from ACL surgery, King and his Saints will enjoy the bye this week before taking on the Tigers at the MCG in Round 15.
