Ben King’s manager doubles down on criticism of “disrespectful” commentary

Ben King’s manager Robbie D'Orazio has doubled down on his criticism of the “disrespectful” commentary surrounding his client.

The 21-year-old will be a topic of much discussion heading into 2022 as he comes out of contract at the Gold Coast Suns, with Victorian clubs set to ramp up their interest in the emerging forward.

D'Orazio, a player manager from Connors Sports Management, did clarify that his criticism was directed at clubs and not the media, bringing up a tweet from St Kilda hours after King was drafted to the Suns in 2018.

“Disappointed is probably the wrong word,” he told AFL Trade Radio’s The Early Trade.

“I understand you guys (media) have got a job to do and it’s my job to manage players and direct them in what I think is best for them.

“I wasn’t disappointed, I’d just like to say that I think the commentary around Ben has been disrespectful from the start.

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“If you go back three years ago on draft night, a footy club actually tweeted ‘looking forward to seeing you in two years’. I haven’t had that in my time, and I’ve done this for over a decade now.

“I think from the top, no one gave Gold Coast or Ben King an opportunity to cement himself from the outset.

“My comments more go back to not what you guys (Lloyd and Cornes) said the other day, but the start three years ago. It wasn’t at you guys as such, it’s more at clubs.

“I just think if you’re commenting on other players at such a young age while they’re establishing their careers, I might be wrong, but I don’t think that’s respectful for the player and the club that’s picked him.”

King, one of the AFL’s brightest young stars, kicked a career-high 47 goals in a Gold Coast team that won just seven games in 2021.