Ben King to Reject Rivals, Forcing Collingwood Magpies Re-think
Gold Coast Suns star key forward Ben King is poised to reject interest from rival AFL clubs, including the Collingwood Magpies, in favor of signing a new contract extension. This decision effectively ends Collingwood’s pursuit of the 25-year-old, who is expected to commit to a two-year deal keeping him at Gold Coast until the end of 2028. Although King is a restricted free agent this year, industry sources indicate he has little appetite to explore the market, preferring to remain a leadership pillar for the Suns under coach Damien Hardwick. This development forces Collingwood to recalibrate its list strategy, as the club sought an elite forward to extend its premiership window amidst the declining form of Jamie Elliott and inconsistent performances from other key forwards. King, who recovered from a serious ACL injury to kick 71 goals last season, will instead delay his unrestricted free agency until 2028. The move represents a significant retention victory for Gold Coast but leaves Collingwood with the challenging task of finding a franchise key forward through alternative avenues such as the draft or future free agency markets.
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Ben King to Reject Rivals, Forcing Collingwood Magpies Re-think
Gold Coast Suns star key forward Ben King is poised to reject interest from rival AFL clubs, including the Collingwood Magpies, in favor of signing a new contract extension. This decision effectively ends Collingwood’s pursuit of the 25-year-old, who is expected to commit to a two-year deal keeping him at Gold Coast until the end of 2028. Although King is a restricted free agent this year, industry sources indicate he has little appetite to explore the market, preferring to remain a leadership pillar for the Suns under coach Damien Hardwick. This development forces Collingwood to recalibrate its list strategy, as the club sought an elite forward to extend its premiership window amidst the declining form of Jamie Elliott and inconsistent performances from other key forwards. King, who recovered from a serious ACL injury to kick 71 goals last season, will instead delay his unrestricted free agency until 2028. The move represents a significant retention victory for Gold Coast but leaves Collingwood with the challenging task of finding a franchise key forward through alternative avenues such as the draft or future free agency markets.
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