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Ben King is poised to complete one of the most dramatic contract backflips in recent AFL history, with the Gold Coast spearhead set to reject the Suns’ lucrative long-term offer and instead nominate Hawthorn as his preferred destination for 2027.
The stunning change of heart comes barely two months after King told The Age he intended to remain on the Gold Coast, insisting he loved the club and saw his future in Queensland.
But three industry sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity because discussions remain confidential, have confirmed King’s position has shifted significantly in recent weeks, with Hawthorn now firmly in the box seat to secure one of the competition’s premier key forwards.
King’s contract at Hawthorn is expected to be a six-year deal, taking him until the end of 2032.
Gold Coast have not yet officially been told of his intention to leave. King will be in Melbourne this week ahead of the Suns’ game against Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The decision is a bitter blow for the Suns, who had been confident they would retain the 26-year-old despite intense Victorian interest and had tabled a massive long-term contract in a bid to keep him at the club.
Several factors have contributed to King’s dramatic reversal.
His partner is keen to return home to Victoria, while Gold Coast’s alarming on-field slide has also weighed heavily. The Suns have now lost eight consecutive matches after appearing well-placed to challenge for a second-consecutive finals campaign earlier this season.
King’s own form has only enhanced his value.
The powerful key forward sits second in the Coleman Medal race and has established himself as one of the AFL’s most reliable goalkickers, kicking at least 40 goals in every completed season since 2021. Last year he produced a career-best campaign with 71 goals, underlining why Hawthorn have been prepared to aggressively pursue his signature.
How the trade period plays out is yet to be determined.
As King is a restricted free agent, Gold Coast have the power to match the bid and force a trade. But given the Suns’ disastrous form slump has now landed them 14th on the ladder, the Queensland club could opt to accept first-round compensation, which, if the season finished now, would be pick No.6.
The Hawks would much prefer to land King without a trade, given they are also in the box seat to land Essendon’s Zach Merrett, who will once again request a move to Hawthorn despite a failed move last year.
For Hawthorn, landing King would represent another significant statement of intent as the club continues to build a list capable of challenging for premierships over the coming years.
However, his arrival would also create a fascinating list-management dilemma.
Mitch Lewis, who reminded the competition of his quality with a five-goal performance on the weekend, is also out of contract and now faces an uncertain future. Lewis has battled injury over the past two seasons but remains one of the league’s most talented key-position forwards when fit.
Whether Hawthorn believe they can accommodate both King and Lewis in the same forward line, or whether King’s impending arrival accelerates Lewis’ departure, looms as one of the major questions heading into the trade and free-agency period.
The Hawks have invested heavily in assembling one of the AFL’s youngest and most exciting lists under Sam Mitchell, and adding a proven goal kicking machine entering the prime of his career would significantly strengthen their premiership aspirations.
For Gold Coast, meanwhile, losing a home-grown marquee player after years of investment would be another devastating retention blow.
The Suns have long viewed King as a cornerstone of their future, but after months of confidence they would secure his signature, they are now confronting the prospect of watching one of the competition’s elite key forwards walk out the door.
If it results in a move, King’s decision would rank among the most extraordinary contract reversals in recent AFL memory – a player who only weeks ago expected to stay, now preparing to head home to Victoria and reshape the landscape of the upcoming trade period.
