Rising star Ben King is hotly tipped to end up with his brother Max at St Kilda should he choose to leave the Suns at the end of his contract in 2022, but one commentator believes that the 202cm key forward could end up elsewhere.
Essendon, a widely regarded bottom four contender at the start of the year, currently sit 12th on the ladder, just six points out of the top eight. Coming off a monster six-year contract extension for two-time club best and fairest Zach Merrett, the club is looking to enhance its stocks in order to become genuine premiership contenders.
The Bombers have been searching for a key forward to build with alongside fellow young gun Harrison Jones, with forward line mainstays Jake Stringer and 32-year-old Cale Hooker still without a contract beyond 2021.
RELATED: Stringer reportedly rejects Bombers contract offer
Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes believes that the Suns' King twin is the player the Bombers need.
Ben King's got four goals ๐ฅ#AFLSunsTigers pic.twitter.com/O1jknPEVyy
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2021
โIโd be chips in on Ben King,โ Cornes said on SEN Mornings.
โI know the Saints would be all in trying to get him to play with his brother.
โIf the Bombers could pull off getting Ben King at the end of next year, Iโd be putting all my eggs in that basket if I could.
โHeโs the player that I would love to see in Essendon colours if he chose to leave the Gold Coast Suns.โ
King was drafted to the Suns with the 6th selection in the 2018 AFL Draft, playing 46 games since his debut in 2019. The 20-year-old was Gold Coast's leading goalkicker in 2020 with 25 goals in the COVID-19 shortened season.
Forward
Disposals
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Goals
King, who currently sits fourth in the 2021 Coleman medal standings, remains contracted until the end of 2022. Ben's brother Max, recently signed a long-term contract extension tying him to St Kilda until at least the end of 2026.
The Bombers are still yet to re-sign Darcy Parish for next year, while several key players including captain Dyson Heppell, Andrew McGrath, and rising star nominee, Nik Cox, all have contracts expiring at the end of 2022.
