Cornes: King interest a warning for Hawks forwards

Hawthorn’s reported interest in Ben King should serve as a warning to the club’s current key forwards.

That is according to Kane Cornes who feels the Hawks have three “back-up singers” but need a serious frontman if they want to contend.

AFL Media’s Cal Twomey reported on Gettable this week that the Hawks have interest in Gold Coast forward King which should be a rocket for the likes of Mabior Chol, Mitch Lewis and the emerging Calsher Dear.

“I’m really interested in the Hawks’ forward line because I think they’ve got three back-up singers,” Cornes said on SEN’s Locked In.

“They need one of them to be the lead singer. Which one of them is going to emerge out of Mabior Chol, Mitch Lewis and Calsher Dear?

“My money would be on Dear even if he’s not currently in the team at the moment. I’m high on him and I think he’s going to be great.

“But at the moment they’re all just - as Kingy (David King) would say - playing well enough not to get dropped. Chol gives you the added bonus of going into the ruck which is definitely valuable.”

The interest in a key forward such as King, who booted a career-best 71 goals last year, is not surprising given the Hawks will have cash to splash.

But the general consensus is that the Hawks should prioritise their midfield.

Regardless of that notion, Cornes is keen to see how the Hawks forward line responds after struggling against GWS in their Opening Round loss last weekend - Jack Gunston aside who kicked four goals off the back of a 73-goal All-Australian and Peter Crimmins Medal campaign.

“I wasn’t surprised that they’re interested in King. So if I’m a Hawthorn key forward, does that not send a rocket right up you?,” Cornes added.

“You’re sitting there going, ‘Hang on, we’ve got ‘Four to the Floor’, there’s four of us, why do we need another one?’. Well, because you’re not doing your job, that’s why.

“So I’m keen on the response from Chol, Lewis, and Dear when he gets his opportunity. Leave Gunston, he can’t do any more. I’m separating him from the conversation, but he’s part of Four to the Floor.

“I’ve said this before that I don’t think it’s a big loss for Gold Coast if they lose Ben king. I think they can cover for him.

“I was more interested in the response we’ll see or not see from the three back-up singers at the Hawks.”

So how do the Hawks sell it to King who is also attracting interest from Collingwood?

“It just depends on where he wants to live, I think,” Cornes replied.

“Their salary cap is not going to be a free-for-all like it perhaps once was.

“He probably gets more to leave and he probably wants a little bit more to leave. Hawthorn have got the Merrett money sitting there.

“Collingwood would be there, but their priority should be Zak Butters.”

The Hawks will get their chance to bounce back when they take on arch enemy Essendon at the MCG on Friday night.