If there’s one player on St Kilda’s list who avoids pumping up their own tyres at every opportunity, it’s the captain himself, Jack Steele.
Great game? It’s about the team. Personal-best outing? Slip into the old footy clichés. Career milestone or accomplishment? Don’t mention it.
When the shoe is on the other foot and he’s talking about one of his teammates however (who in this instance also has a near-identical aversion to self-promotion), it’s quite the opposite. The praise is profound.
Steele has plenty to say in the wake of teammate Max King putting pen to paper on a mega eight-year deal, which will see him in red, white and black until at least the end of 2032 as the club continues its pursuit of a long-awaited second premiership.
“Maxy’s dedicated, he’s committed. Hungry. Loyal. Trustworthy. He wants to be great. He’s got a big desire to become a great player in the AFL and for St Kilda,” Steele told saints.com.au.
“I think everyone knows how much Max loves St Kilda. He grew up idolising the Saints and always dreamed of playing for them, and how he’s in the box seat. His desire to make this club great and get us to the top is second-to-none. We all walk taller when he’s up and going.
“He does a lot of work behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t see. His career so far probably hasn’t turned out the way he would have liked with injuries, but he doesn’t really leave any stone unturned in trying to get better.”
After a brief visit to visit twin brother Ben up in Queensland, King has a been constant sight at RSEA Park this off-season as he builds his way back from injury.
King was ruled out for the final eight games of St Kilda’s 2024 campaign after suffering a tear to his left PCL; the same knee which he had jarred earlier in the season in an unrelated incident which saw him miss a further two games.
Avoiding surgery, the 24-year-old has spent the bulk of his break in the gym under the watch Rehab Coordinator Keegan Ziada, building strength through both his knees before progressing to running in a few weeks’ time.
“Even in the off-season, he’s in here trying to put size on and work on his craft. He’s been in just about every day,” Steele said.
“You see a lot of young boys in here trying to get better and you encourage that always, but there are times where you want them to spend a bit of time away and enjoy their time off!
“He’s very important to us. I don’t want to put all that on Max, but he is one player that can be something special. He already is a very good player, but what he’s capable of is very exciting for me to sit back and watch, for all the Saints fans to watch and all of his teammates too.
“He’s got to put the work in to do that, but he’s really doing all he can to get better.”
Steele himself still has plenty of footy in the tank at 28 years of age heading into his ninth season as a Saint next season.
However many more years come from the skipper, all will be with King by his side. And he’s pretty pleased with that.
“I couldn’t be happier, not only for Max, his family but also selfishly for me and the team. It’s so exciting to see his commitment and he is a St Kilda person,” Steele said.
“I know he’s going to prove some doubters wrong and I’m really forward to just sitting back and watching it.”
