Cornes: If Ben King leaves, he will join Victorian giant

Don’t discount Geelong in the race for Gold Coast free agent Ben King.

King, who comes out of contract this year as a restricted free agent, is reportedly being courted by both Collingwood and Hawthorn, although Morris is sure that the Cats are also throwing their hat in the ring.

The key forward has kicked a league-leading 26 goals from seven games in 2026, backing up the 71 he booted in 2025 and is set to be one of the hottest commodities this off-season should he decide to leave the Suns.

And Chad Cornes has received "very strong" mail on the matter, stating that if King is to leave the Suns, the Victorian giant has leapt ahead of rival clubs to become the likely landing spot.

“He’s sought after, isn’t he?” Chad Cornes told SEN SA The Run Home.

“His goalkicking – it’s an unbelievable stat, possessions per goal. I think he’s only had roughly 10 possessions that haven’t resulted in a score.

“He is in demand; Gold Coast have tabled a two-year offer for him when he comes out of contract at the end of this year. Hawthorn, Collingwood are interested, but it’s not NOS worthy.

“NOS – my network of spies – have given me great intel across Australia. I’m hearing if he is to move, it will be Geelong.

“Jeremy Cameron, Ben King, Shannon Neale… this is very strong mail.”

While most around King are telling him that he should recommit given the Suns are in the flag window, Morris says he’s yet to tell anyone that he intends to re-sign beyond 2026.

“Everyone around Ben King is telling him that he should stay,” Morris told SEN Breakfast.

“He's at the Suns, he's built a life up there, he's got a partner up there, but he still hasn't told anyone around him that he intends to stay beyond this year. 

“Jed Walter has interest from Perth and interest from other clubs as well.

“I can't pick who's more likely to go. But I think Ben King is likely to stay for more than two years… but the Cats are having a nibble at Ben King as well. 

“Don't discount the Cats, along with the Pies and other clubs, too.

“I think Ben King, if he does go, it'd be a huge move given that the Suns - I know they've had an ordinary couple of weeks - are a team that’s contending and he’s built a life up there.

“So that would surprise me.”

While the Suns are expected to try and keep hold of their key piece inside 50, former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley isn’t sure whether he really is part of the club’s long-term future.

With young key forward Jed Walter also out of contract at season’s end, Hinkley says he’d be trying harder to keep the 20-year-old even if he’s only been picked in four games so far in 2026.

He also warned clubs targeting King with huge offers that they may need him to do more than simply kick goals if they’re going to put so much of their salary cap into his services.

He discussed King’s future with Sam Edmund on SEN Sportsday.

Hinkley: “What do you expect from Ben King? He's had five touches, five kicks total for 2.1.”

Edmund: “He’s never been a big possession winner, has he? His kick to goal ratio has been elite, unbelievable.”

Hinkley: “Well, tell me what you get from a Jack Gunston? It might be 13 touches and a bunch of goals. But he works and creates for his teammates.

“I just don't know that Ben King is a part of their long-term future. 

“Collingwood and the big clubs in Melbourne are gonna come calling. Just be a bit careful, is what I would say (to those clubs).

“I don't think you get enough from him. I get it, with four goals on average, I shouldn't even be saying that too often, but I want to see a more physical presence. 

“I get everyone has different strengths. I mean, if your strength is only purely finishing, go back and kick a goal… and the Hawthorn defensive group are the best in the business collectively…”

Edmund: “You want him, just for the record here, to be more involved defensively, offensively, and have more of a, a complete game, if you like?” 

Hinkley: “Yeah, I want him to crash some more packs. I want him to bring the ball to ground, work up the ground a little bit more, which I've seen him do once or twice on the weekend, but I just think he's too good a player … to just be the end of the chain as the finisher.

“If you're paying him north of a million, you need him to be more than just at the top.”

Edmund: “Would you be of a mind not to be fighting tooth and nail to keep him?”

Hinkley: “I wouldn't be losing Jed Walter. I’d refuse to lose Jed Walter because of the way he plays football is the way you want to play. Think about Treacy from Fremantle.”

Edmund: “Not many people kick 71.23 like he did 12 months ago, Ben King, but it’s an interesting conversation.”

As a restricted free agent, Gold Coast will have the option to match any bids that are made on their star forward this off-season.