Gold Coast AFL star Ben King is to have scans on a suspected knee injury suffered at training.
The 21-year-old forward was taking part in the Suns’ match simulation on Thursday, but fell to the ground during a contest with No.5 draft pick Mac Andrew.
King was quickly supported by coach Stuart Dew and Suns teammates.
“Ben left the field with an injury and was assessed by club medical staff at the time,” Suns football manager Wayne Campbell said.
“Ben will get scans this afternoon and we’ll wait on the results of those before taking any further action.”
King is out-of-contract at the end of the 2022 season, with clubs in Victoria already trying to prise him away from south-east Queensland.
He has kicked 89 goals – 47 of them coming last year – in 53 games since debuting in round nine, 2019.
King is a player the struggling Suns can’t afford to lose with the club yet to play finals since entering the AFL in 2011.
Gold Coast finished 16th last season with seven wins.
King’s twin brother Max plays for St Kilda, while Essendon have also been heavily linked to Ben.
There has been speculation about Ben returning to Victoria ever since he was drafted by Gold Coast back in 2018.
The Suns were unimpressed by a cheeky tweet from St Kilda’s social media team on draft night: “Ben, if you ever want to come home.”.
Boo
Guest
Not good news hope the Sun's can overcome this and make the finals .Not sure if I'm right but can a player be elevated to the senior list and if so are the Sun's permitted to recruit from outside there list ? There must be a ready made full forward in the lower leagues worth a spot for a year .
Macca
Roar Rookie
Yeah terrible news for a player looking like taking the game by the scruff. Absolute disaster for the Suns, the player they could least afford to lose.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
In the immortal words of Jeremy Clarkson…it has now. Rough for the young lad.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
It’s not the end of the world it will open up another spot on the list so they can bring in Hammleman and Will Bella is already training with them so they can use their last category B spot to bring him. They’ve also still got Chol, Andrew’s, Lukosius, Day, Corbett, Murtagh, Casboult and Jeffrey all of whom can play key forward positions.
XI
Roar Guru
I really hope it's just a painful tweak and nothing serious. I don't want the Suns to have to go through another year with no signs of finals.
Ditto
Roar Rookie
Ben King's done his knee and apparently he's out of contract at the end of season and Victorian clubs are prowling. Just saying.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
See I’m an optimist this only raises opportunities for players like Malbior Chol and Joel Jeffrey. It also hasn’t been confirmed yet
Macca
Roar Rookie
:thumbdown: