How do we get the best out of Max King?

[Sainternist]

Jake at Saints TV gives a good analysis of King’s strengths and weaknesses. Gotta say, I like the idea of him becoming a permanent CHF. Would be good to see him relieve Marshall in the ruck every so often, too.

[The_Dud]

Play him the same as Caminiti was being played at the end of the season.

Though I do find it interesting/concerning that his 'fix/fixes' seem so obvious to everyone, yet the millions of dollars worth of coaches down at the club can't work it out?

[Killa]

Simple.

Get him fit - so that he has supreme confidence in his body.

[Big Max]

Quite frankly I wouldn't be surprised if Max's biggest problem was anxiety and feeling the immense pressure for the need to live up to the club's (and supporters) expectations.

Now, I'm definitely no shrink, but perhaps give him a lower pressure role, like a high half-forward, a bit like Cooper Sharman.

It may take a couple of injury free seasons to build confidence in his body and (confidence) in his ability, and perhaps then move him back closer to the goals.

[B.M]

Get his body right

Good run with injury

He’ll kick 60+

[Sainternist]

Quite frankly I wouldn't be surprised if Max's biggest problem was anxiety and feeling the immense pressure for the need to live up to the club's (and supporters) expectations.

Now, I'm definitely no shrink, but perhaps give him a lower pressure role, like a high half-forward, a bit like Cooper Sharman.

It may take a couple of injury free seasons to build confidence in his body and (confidence) in his ability, and perhaps then move him back closer to the goals.

Absolutely! It has been evident in his body language at times that his confidence is sometimes down. A big part of the professional game is mental.

[skeptic]

He needs to play more like Riewoldt.

Few will ever have the great man’s tank for a tall forward but Max needs to move more so that when the ball comes to him, he can use his large size and freakish reach to outmanoeuvre opponents. He needs to use those qualities as an advantage/strength as opposed to relying on them in low percentage, pack mark situations.

[bigcarl]

DONT build a forward line around him.

If he stays forward, it needs to be on the clear understanding that he is only an option, not THE option.

High half forward sounds a reasonable starting point. Don’t want to see him deep with three blokes on him standing static under a long bomb ever again.

If that does rear its head, we may have to get him out of the forward line altogether … intercept defender, second ruck etc

[BadRossco]

Ideal replacement for Battle, forward line appears to function better without him

[Saint 58]

C ... H .. F ... !!!

[Sainter_Dad]

CHF - if he is double or triple teamed - kick it over his head and let the smalls chaos ball it!

[SaintPav]

It's no coincidence that Zac Jones' form has taken off because he was able to remain injury-free for a prolonged period, and confidence in his body returned. It took the best part of a season.

[magnifisaint]

Build his strength and fitness. It's up to him to put the work in.

[repta]

Does he have the tank for CHF ?

He doesn't strike me that he would have the tank to play CHF. CHF is one of the more demending positions in regards to run and sprint distances. Chop out in the ruck will be OK. But his second efforts and running power in the forward line could have some improvement.

[perfectionist]

Swap him to another team.

[SinCitySainter]

Tell RTB not to have a gameplan solely focused on bombing it to him 30m out from goal to either mark it or bring it to ground and let the smalls create a stoppage.
When he is not there we play a gameplan that requires us to use other avenues to goal and we become far less predictable.
When he is in the side we seem to revert to a gameplan where he is the only target when we bring the ball in.
In my opinion, the issue is not actually Max but how the gameplan is structured around him rather than around a functioning forward setup.

[samoht]

See next post ..

[samoht]

If the forward line (which was starting to kick ass, the last few games) can kick even more goals overall with Max playing as a permanent forward, with the conversion rate climbing even higher, then yes, I would play him forward next year.

It remains to be seen if this can be achieved, next year.

The thing is ...
Would we want King kicking 70 goals per year, if it means our overall scoring and conversion rate (which was tracking beautifully the last few games) suffers/goes back down?

The option and fall back, if all else fails, is CHB ... he could potentially star there. It wouldn't be the end of the world ... I am sure he has more strings to his bow. That's what I'd try, anyway.

(However ... with Membrey being shopped around, it looks like King is only being seen as a forward ... which is crazy).

[Sanctorum]

On Fox Footy the other night Jonathan Brown reviewed St Kilda's season and suggested what I and others have been saying, get Max King to play further up the ground, at CHF and 2nd ruck, to get him more involved in the game and build his confidence.

You'd imagine this would take a lot of pressure off his sagging shoulders and maybe ignite a latent spark and enjoy himself a bit,.....

[spert]

Many is a 200cm athletic footballer, probably not best suited as a stay-at-home FF. We kicked some pretty good scores without him, so it will be interesting to see what Lyon doesn't next season. I would hope that our forward coach would put work into Max's leading and demanding the ball, as he seems to want to wait out the back, or wait for a perfect disposal. Any improvement with him will come from above the shoulders.

[ace]

Just another first round draft pick DUD.
TRADE HIM but don't expect much for him.