St Kilda star Max King is facing more time on the sidelines after it was revealed he would need to undergo a second round of surgery on his knee.

King, who the Saints had hoped earlier in the month might have been fit to return for last weekend’s Gather Round match, is now set to miss at least another four weeks.

After meeting with his surgeon today it was decided more surgery was the best way forward.

“He’ll undergo his second knee arthroscope in six weeks,” 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary said.

“The surgery will keep him out of action for 4-plus weeks with another training block needed.

“He is yet to play since re-signing with the club until the end of 2032.”

King, who hasn’t played an AFL match since round 17 of the 2024 season, had his first knee surgery in February.

The 24-year-old was injured in an intra-club match on February 7.

King is among the league’s most promising key forwards but has been limited by knee and shoulder injuries in recent years.

In 2018, St Kilda quickly snapped him up in the AFL draft with pick four, but even in that year he was injured.

He made his debut in 2020 and has managed just 83 games since.

Last year played just 12 games and the year before it was only 11.

Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes has been vocal critic of the lengthy contract extension King was handed last year, calling it unnecessary.

“Why not address this halfway through 2026 and just see how things are going with his body with his form and with where the Saints are at it?” he asked.

With 7NEWS