Gold Coast have confirmed Suns star Ben King has ruptured the ACL in his right knee.
The 21-year-old was taking part in the Suns’ match simulation on Thursday, but fell to the ground during a contest with number five draft pick Mac Andrew.
King was quickly supported by coach Stuart Dew and Suns teammates.
But the club confirmed King has suffered the dreaded season-ending injury.
“Unfortunately Ben’s ruptured his ACL in his right knee in a pretty simple marking contest that he’d been in many times before,” GC SUNS General Manager of Football Performance Wayne Campbell said.
“Ben’s going well, whenever someone goes down with an ACL it’s shattering for a start.
“He’s got a really strong family and we’ve got some really good support around him from the footy club, it’s not ideal by any stretch but we know Ben’s strength of character will see him attack the challenge in a positive manner.”
The club will consult with its medical team, specialists and Ben in the coming days before deciding on the best course of action for rehabilitation.
King underwent scans on Thursday afternoon and was hoping for better-than-expected news.
Ben King. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“We’ll just have to wait and see but fingers crossed,” he told the Nine Network.
“They’ve (emotions) settled a bit.
“That’s just footy. Get injured, that’s just part of it.”
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 9, 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 that read: “Ben, if you ever want to come home.”
Chris M
Guest
I meant to write, "Ben King, not Max King, may be invited to go where Clarko goes, and if it is the Suns, he'll probably stay there."
Chris M
Guest
Actually, that's not a bad idea. If the club that finishes first after the home-and-away season has to play off with the top eight teams and ultimately be triumphant in a Grand Final to win the premiership, why should the club that finishes bottom of the ladder after the home-and-away season automatically receive the wooden spoon? Why not have a 'Gross Final' between two bottom clubs at the end of the home-and-away season and the loser wins the wooden spoon.
Chris M
Guest
It does sound familiar but the Swans had salary cap issues at the end of 2021. The Swans will want to retain Isaac Heeney who is a free agent, amongst a host of other stars who are out of contract, maybe even Lance Franklin. Also, unlike 'Buddy,' who was an unrestricted free agent whn the Swans acquired his services, Ben King will cost both a lot of money and a lot of draft capital and he'll be coming back from a knee reconstruction after an ACL injury, like his twin brother, Max, had a few years earlier. Let's hope it's not an indication that the King twins may have a predisposition to suffering ongoing ACL injuries during their careers. Max King may be invited to go where Clarko goes, and if it is the Suns, he'll probably stay there.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Tiges have it locked up
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Brock, he used to run Autobarn up in Darwin
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
That’s if you’re using a browser I generally comment on my phone haha
Willow
Roar Rookie
ABP…AdblockPlus.
Willow
Roar Rookie
So Ben King moves to Rose Bay on a multi million $ deal with the Swans. That does sound eerily familiar by the way...and it is about half way between the Gold Coast and Melbourne. When he's had enough, he can then buy himself a beach front property in Brighton and play alongside his brother at St Kilda.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I don’t think it’s that bad simply because I don’t think Clarkson can really coach anymore
Boo
Guest
That isn't good King is a star in the making .
Zed16
Guest
Sad for the young man and his team. Unfortunately it's a fact that injuries will occur at any point in professional sport.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I mean he wore out the central tendon of his abdominal muscles that’s what forced him to retire
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah I think he lacks the lateral thinking that is often required of head coaches. Ratten always struck me as a weird choice.
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
Is Dustin Fletcher available
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
Talking about bits and pieces ,Simon Lethlean football operations manager now general manager of football ,AFL house discard ,Gets promoted for incompetence , Old saying fish rot from the head .I have no idea why Robert Harvey never got the coaching job a saints man through and through.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah I’m Essendon I’ve at least been alive for two premierships though I don’t remember the first one. The problem the Saints have is they’ve tried to bring in different pieces from different clubs rather than developing from within. I think some of their picks made sense others less so and it’s left them with egg on their faces. Thankfully they went back to the draft last year though they still need some key defensive depth behind Howard
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
Not a big fan of the club in general , Starting from the top down till they get real football people in the club we are going nowhere , I e Balme !Cook ,Hocking It’s generally hard watching all the brainless football people appointed over the years, Saints supporter 50 years +
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Not a big fan of Ratten are we?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Their small forwards aren’t that bad either. Jeffrey kicked nine goals against Aspley in the reserves. sexton has a bit of an attitude problem but he’s still serviceable, the problem is they won’t have the key forward to crumb around without king
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I mean just cos he’s living around Byron now.