An out-of-favour Saint is facing a fresh injury setback as coach Ross Lyon insists this season is different to 2022 for the club.
AFL: Saints coach Ross Lyon has called on his forwards to provide Max King with more support as St Kilda get set to take on the Eagles.
Billings hurt his hamstring in the dying moments of Sandringham’s VFL win over Coburg on May 27, with scans after the Saints’ bye revealing a grade 2 tear.
Lyon said the 27-year-old, who is contracted until 2025 but has been the subject of trade speculation due to his inability to break into the senior side, had been on the cusp of selection before the setback.
Billings made a delayed start to the season after suffering a hairline fracture to his leg in a February pre-season match, playing five consecutive games for Sandringham after returning.
“I spoke to Jack during the week – he was really close to selection,” Lyon said.
“He still got his break in (after the injury), went up to Port Douglas, came back (for scans) and it was a grade 2 hamstring, so not insignificant.
“We feel for him … he’s worked his butt off, but hopefully he’s in good shape and comes back quick.”
Jack Billings will miss up to six weeks after tearing his hamstring in the VFL. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images
Lyon said Mitch Owens would face Sydney on Thursday night if he completed Tuesday’s main training session, and he was confident the Saints were on a different trajectory compared with this time last year when they entered the bye with an 8-3 record but only managed three more wins in the second half of the season.
“I think we’ve done the opposite this year. Our narrative has been that those stars were missing, the same players were missing (in the second half of 2022) and we’ve been able to win lots of games,” Lyon said.
“Gold Coast has been emotionally brave, the world was piling in on them and they stood up, and North and Essendon digging in, so there’s some really good examples out there.”
Max King kicked 4.0 in the 10-point loss to Hawthorn as coach Ross Lyon says there is no pressure on him to win games off his own boot for the Saints. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images
Lyon said he was pleased with Max King’s progress but admitted there was “anxiety” whenever he threw himself at aerial contests after his run of injuries.
We have anxiety (about injuries), we have anxiety every time we go down the race,” Lyon said.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking. I don’t know what I’m thinking half the time … but he seems like he’s handling it OK.
“I just said make sure you chase, tackle and bring the ball to ground – Higgins and Butler will do the rest.”
Lyon said he rejected the notion that the Saints’ success was dependent on King leading them to victory with consistently dominant performances.
“Football is a weakest link game, it’s not a strongest link game. We’re not a basketball court where one person can turn around a franchise,” he said.
“We don’t see him as a franchise player, I don’t get that term in the AFL.”