King or Walter? Which key forward should the Suns keep?

Kane Cornes has given his assessment of what the Gold Coast Suns should do regarding player retention.

With Gold Coast slipping down the ladder towards the bottom of the top 10 after four straight losses, the speculation around some of its players’ contract situations has increased.

The two main players of interest at this stage have been Ben King and Jed Walter.

King, who currently leads the Coleman Medal, was reportedly close to signing a two-year extension with the club. But there are still several Victorian clubs in the hunt for his signature, such as Hawthorn, with the 25-year-old still yet to make a decision.

While Walter, who was drafted from the Suns academy in 2023, has been courted by Collingwood and Essendon among several clubs.

As both key forwards consider their playing future, Cornes believes that if the Suns could only keep one, there is an obvious answer.

“I could stomach losing him (King),” he told SEN’s Crunch Time.

“I can't have a player, as valued as highly as what they are going to invest in, not have a kick in the first half.

“Just find a way to find a way to influence the game in whatever way. We get it's a tough spot. But zero kicks (in the first half) and he's ended up having two (scores) for the game.

“He just gives me nothing, nothing else other than being chained to the goalscorer and sometimes that works and happy days when it comes off.

“But when he's on a good opponent, he just doesn't have any other dimensions to his game.

“So, if you have to lose one, lose him. I think Walter has got a whole heap more upside than what King does.”

But Cornes also had concerns for the Hawks looking to sign King following his performance in the Suns’ 16-point loss to Hawthorn, which saw him with four disposals and a goal.

“And then there's the Hawthorn point of view,” Cornes added.

“Do you want the four that they've got (in Jack) Gunston, (Mabior) Chol, (Mitch) Lewis and (Calshear) Dear?

“'Cause you're gonna lose one of those if King comes in, and I suspect it's Mitch Lewis.

“If you want to lose one of those four for King and give up what you're gonna need to give up if they match that deal, which is going be two top 10 (picks), 3x 1st round picks, or do you just wanna keep what you've got?

“I think you'd watch the tape of that game if you're Sam Mitchell, like I think they should with Zach Merrett, and go, we don't need this guy. Let's not panic; things are pretty good.

“(You) certainly don't wanna lose Dear at his age. I wouldn't love to lose Mitch Lewis for Ben King.

 “I think it's one that they (the Hawks) should revisit. It feels like the Hawks are his preferred destination if he leaves.

“I'd be having second thoughts at a rapid rate after last night.”

The Suns are hoping to avoid losing their fifth straight game when they face the ladder leading Dockers at Optus Stadium in Round 16.

That takes place on June 28 with the match beginning at 5:10pm AEST (3:10pm local time).