Gold Coast forward Ben King’s decision on his footballing future has boiled down to remaining at the Suns or returning to his hometown to play for the Hawks as he weighs up where he plays in 2027.
The 25-year-old restricted free agent is leading the Coleman Medal race, having kicked 38.10 this season, and has a lucrative two-year deal on the table from the Suns.
King is using his free-agency status, which he earned due to his eight years at the Suns, to take his time on deciding where his future lies and has not changed his position for months.
He would become an unrestricted free agent in two seasons if he remained a Sun, or he could replace champion forward Jack Gunston in front of the sticks at Dingley as the battle to retain goal-kicking forwards heats up across the AFL.
Collingwood and Geelong had expressed some interest in King but opposition clubs believe the Hawks – who have also been keen on contracted forward Bailey Humphrey – are the main contender for his services if he decided to leave the Gold Coast.
The key forward would likely command at least two, and probably three, first-round selections at the trade table if he was keen to join the Hawks, as the Suns have the right to match an offer.
He is the best goal-kicking forward still out of contract at the mid-point of the season, with the Suns’ Jed Walter, Sydney free agent Joel Amartey, North Melbourne’s Zane Duursma, Giants trio Jesse Hogan, Max Gruzewski and Jake Riccardi, Hawthorn free agent Mitch Lewis and Melbourne’s restricted free agent Bayley Fritsch all unsigned beyond this season.
Money Talks spoke to six competition sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, to get a read on each player’s intentions.
The Suns are waiting patiently for King while making it clear they are keen to retain Walter, who remains a developing prospect inside 50. Walter has met with Essendon but has a five-year offer worth about $4 million on the table from the Suns. Walter has kicked multiple goals in six of his seven matches for the Suns this season.
The Magpies are the other Victorian-based club in the market for a key forward, but they have signalled their intention to head to the draft after trading their first-round pick in recent drafts. That means they are more likely to target unrestricted free agents than players such as King and Walter, who will command early draft picks if traded. There are also talls likely to be rated at the top end of this year’s national draft.
Sydney’s Amartey and the Hawks’ Lewis are unrestricted free agents. Amartey has been discussing multiple options to extend his time with Sydney after rediscovering his 2024 form this season. Opposition clubs are monitoring Amartey’s negotiations, but he has made it clear his priority is to reach a deal with Sydney.
Lewis has a four-year offer from Hawthorn after a consistent return from injury battles with 20 goals in his first 13 games this season. He had a pre-season goal of passing his previous high mark of 15 games in a season before being definitive about his future.
The athletic 27-year-old is likely to have suitors if he does not reach an agreement with Hawthorn, but clubs are yet to make serious attempts to secure him.
Despite some discussion at the end of last season about whether North Melbourne forward Zane Duursma could be open to a trade, the now 20-year-old has made strong progress this season and is moving towards extending his time at the Kangaroos.
Duursma has kicked 15 goals in 12 matches and shapes as a key figure in the Kangaroos’ slow rebuild.
Melbourne forward Bayley Fritsch has found a new lease on life under new coach Steven King, kicking three goals on King’s Birthday in a return to form after a quiet fortnight. The club is comfortable where negotiations sit with the premiership forward who turns 30 this year.
The Giants have former No.1 pick Aaron Cadman locked in until 2030 but remain in discussions with Hogan, who won the 2024 Coleman Medal, Gruzewski and Riccardi.
Hybrid forward Gruzewski has shown his talent, kicking 10 goals in the past four matches as he gets his opportunity while Hogan has missed with a hip injury. Hogan, who is a chance to return this round, is in discussions with the Giants, while Gruzewski is taking his time before launching into a decision. Gruzewski, who played with the Oakleigh Chargers, was pick No.22 in the 2022 national draft.
He has played 19 matches in three seasons. He has had enormous interest from Victorian clubs as his form in the VFL was outstanding, regularly booting four or five goals a game.
Riccardi is a reliable ruck-forward, closing in on his 100-game milestone with the Giants. At 26, he will have a market if he can’t reach an agreement with the Giants, but has given no signal that he wants to leave.
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