An AFL great has highlighted vision he believes poses questions of St Kilda’s culture including Max King not celebrating with teammates on field.
King has been widely scrutinised amid an underwhelming season from the star forward — and in a season the Saints have slid down the ladder — on track for his lowest goalkicking return since his first campaign with 19 goals from 12 games.
It led Demons legend Garry Lyon to question whether or not it was fair so much focus goes on the 23-year old.
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Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown thinks King needs to “look inward” and work out how he can impact games in more ways, particularly when St Kilda isn’t delivering him the ball effectively.
“(He needs to question) ‘How am I contributing to the lack of inside 50s and how am I competing? If it’s not favouring me, what am I like in the contest? Can I fight and compete? Do I play with presence?’,” Brown told Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“There’s also a forward craft element as well. I wonder how he’s getting taught and if he’s getting put in the right spots.
“Don’t blame what’s up the field, look at yourself.”
Jordan Lewis, who part of a golden era at Hawthorn where it won four premierships, meanwhile thinks there’s a “deeper culture piece” that signals bigger problems at the Saints.
Lewis showed two clips from St Kilda’s loss to Port Adelaide last weekend that speak to this. The first shows Dan Butler lay a big tackle inside 50 in a two on one, but the nearby King doesn’t get over to him after.
“I love teams that celebrate effort,” Lewis began.
“This here is an inside 50, you can see the forward pressure and tackle and ferocity (Butler) puts in. King is there and lets Butler get up by himself and doesn’t celebrate.”
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Lyon agreed that such instances point to a side that don’t fully embrace on-field camaraderie like great teams should.
“People would be going: ‘Is that really that big a deal?’ It is,” Lyon added.
“Dan Butler busts his ass to get there, two on one and lays the tackle. Max’s job is to celebrate him and get him up and tell him how
significant it is.
“This is really instructional. Get there Max, pick the boy up, celebrate and be happy with the effort. Don’t turn your back.
“Is it really (an issue)? It’s an overt want to be a part of a team.”
In the second edit, King brings a ball to ground in a contest to help set up a Brad Hill goal, but gets ignored by teammates when they celebrate with Hill afterwards.
“In this instance, King has created a dropped ball and spill for Hill to kick the goal. Look what happens after,” Lewis continued.
“This is not the sign for me of a side with good culture or a side that recognises who play a specific part in a piece of play.
“No one goes to Max King, so why should he jump and break the packs when no one is going over and recognising what he’s doing? Why should he be that man when they don’t recognise the little stuff great sides do?”
Source Agencies
