ONE OF the most talked about club-tied talents coming into this year was Max King, a dynamic and ultra athletic utility out of the Sydney Swans Academy. Despite being left out of the National Academy, he has been widely viewed as a first round prospect with potential to be rated among the top 10.

On Saturday he became the latest Allies representative to be unleashed into the VFL, making his state league debut for the Swans. It coincided with a breakthrough victory for the club over Southport, meaning its only two wins this year have come against both the 2024 Grand Finalists.

King was utilised as a permanent forward and showcased his game-winning attributes with a handful of scoring shots, as the Swans stormed home from as many as 44 points down in term three. We put King’s latest performance under the Player Focus microscope, broken down quarter-by-quarter.

>> Race to #1: Max King (Swans Academy)

Swans AcademyForward-Midfielder

Max King

Height: 191cm

Weight: -

DOB: 09-01-2007

SEASON AVERAGES:

2025 Coates Talent League (4 games)
14.0 disposals, 3.8 marks, 2.3 tackles, 3.3 inside 50s, 0.8 goals

2025 AFL U18 National Championships (1 game)
10 disposals, 3 marks, 2 inside 50s, 6 score involvements, 2 behinds

STRENGTHS:
+ Aerial ability
+ Power
+ Speed
+ Upside
+ Vertical leap

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sydney Swans VFL (@swans_reserves)

PLAYER FOCUS

2025 VFL Round 13
Southport 12.14 (86) def. by Sydney Swans 12.20 (92)

#62 Max King (Sydney Swans)

Stats: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 4 behinds
2 contested marks | 4 score involvements | 44% disposal efficiency

FIRST QUARTER:

While on debut in the VFL, King is accustomed to senior footy having booted 30 goals in 12 games for local side Cardiff last year. That showed as he applied himself and was prepared to accept contact with minimal fuss. Handling the slippery footy in a higher-pressure game was a little tougher, though.

King was sighted venturing up the field, providing an option to connect the lines without any clean possessions. He was also freed up inside 50 as somewhat of a third string tall to AFL-listed Swans Will Green and Jack Buller, sharing the airways and utilising their presence to fly third-up when possible.

Sydney peppered the goals in the opening quarter with 10 scoring shots (3.7), even amid persistent rain. King contributed to that with a minor score after being was left all alone over the back, where Ollie Florent found him with a long kick. King marked uncontested but put his set shot wide.

SECOND QUARTER:

A great example of King’s eagerness came as he attacked the bouncing ball as Green waited for it to sit up in the corridor, taking it cleanly before dishing off his only handball for the game. He would continue to fly in front of packs and wasn’t fazed by being put down by a big bump from Will Sexton.

The 18-year-old couldn’t quite reel anything in, either jumping under the ball or getting his hands to it but being unable to wrangle it still. He also produced another shot on goal – applying pressure before swooping on the spill and blazing away long. Buller seemed to scold him for it, perhaps unfairly.

THIRD QUARTER:

King got his tail up in the third quarter, helping arrest the momentum for Sydney after falling 79-35 down midway through the term. Having seen limited opportunities to that point, he plucked a terrific mark inside 50, using his leap and extending upwards at the ball with great reach.

He missed the set shot opportunity there, but produced one more scoring chance by winning a holding-the-ball free kick, albeit for another behind. King also showed some craft with a super bit of bodywork to take a one-on-one mark at half-forward, going on to play on with great athleticism.

The Swans went into three-quarter time still 22 points in arrears of Southport, but had a sniff thanks to consistent output from some high-class AFL players and exuberant youngsters like King. He lacked a touch of composure when it came to finishing the job, but was certainly amongst the action.

FOURTH QUARTER:

The drying conditions suited King to a t, and he finally broke through to slot his maiden VFL goal. It was another super leap in front of the pack which earned him the opportunity, this time holding the mark and converting his shot. It was the first major of term four.

Another of King’s best moments was when he arched his back to burn off Sexton at half-forward before hitting an excellent inboard kick for James Tidemann, which led to the sealing goal. He continued to present up to the wing and provided a contest when Sydney was looking to wind down the clock.

The overarching theme of King’s second half was that while he is a little raw and comes with inconsistencies, his high-end ability can be game-changing. Such athleticism and contested marking are traits which make him a constant threat up forward, only needing a few moments to impact.