ST KILDA forward Max King will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after tearing a posterior cruciate ligament in his knee on Sunday.

The 23-year-old suffered the injury to his left knee just after half-time in the club's two-point loss to Port Adelaide, however played out the rest of the game.

It is the same knee that saw King miss two matches earlier in the season, but the injuries are believed to be unrelated.

"This is a very disappointing outcome for Max," Saints football boss David Misson said.

"It's a credit to Max's commitment to his teammates that he played out the game on Sunday, but for his long-term future and health, it's important we now give his knee some time to rest and recover.

"While this will see Max miss the rest of the season, pleasingly he doesn't require surgery, and this course of action will place him in the best possible position to attack pre-season."

King endured fierce criticism for his performance in the loss to the Power, with suggestions he could be on the trade table at the end of the season.

He is contracted for another two years at the Saints, and has been in talks on a potential long-term extension.

St Kilda made the finals last year, with King playing a crucial role in the Saints' charge once he was available mid-season following shoulder surgery.

Saints coach Ross Lyon defended King on Sunday after he went goalless against Port.

"When we're not getting a lot of clean ball to him, it can be hard … I really admired his mental (toughness) ... he took a step forward," Lyon said.

The Saints sit in 15th place on the ladder with just five wins for the season.

King has kicked 159 goals across his 83-game career but has managed just 23 matches in the past two seasons after firing in 2022 with 52 majors.

Since being drafted in 2018, King has struggled with shoulder injuries, and was not able to debut until 2020 after missing the 2019 season due to an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.