Ben King: AFL Career, Twin Brother & Free Agent Status
Few AFL players generate as much conversation about their future as Ben King in 2025. The Gold Coast Suns forward has become a central figure in the free agency period, balancing individual success with the unique spotlight of being half of the league’s most famous twin duo, with a contract decision looming and comparisons to his brother Max at an all-time high.
Born: 7 July 2000 · Height: 202 cm · AFL Club: Gold Coast Suns · Twin Brother: Max King (St Kilda) · 2025 Marks Inside 50 Rank: 4th · 2025 Contested Marks Rank: 11th
Quick snapshot
- Plays for Gold Coast Suns (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia))
- Identical twin of Max King (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)) (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia))
- Restricted free agent in 2025 (AFL (competition’s official governing body))
- Exact final salary and contract terms
- Whether he re-signs or moves to a Victorian club
- Exact number of AFL games played
- Drafted pick 6 in 2018 (AFL (competition’s official governing body))
- Developed through 2019–2024, signing three two-year extensions (AFL (competition’s official governing body))
- Decision on Gold Coast’s two-year table offer (AFL (competition’s official governing body))
- Interest from Collingwood, Hawthorn, and Geelong (AFL (competition’s official governing body))
A quick look at the vital statistics reveals the physical profile of a modern AFL key forward.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ben King |
| Date of birth | 7 July 2000 |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Height | 202 cm |
| AFL club | Gold Coast Suns |
| Twin | Max King (St Kilda) |
Are Max and Ben King identical twins?
The King twins are a unique case study in AFL development. Drafted together, their diverging paths highlight how environment shapes a player’s trajectory.
How do Ben King and Max King differ in playing style?
- Ben plays as a full-forward for the Gold Coast Suns, while Max plays as a key forward for St Kilda (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
- Ben stands at 202 cm, slightly shorter than Max’s 204 cm (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
- At the 2018 draft, Max was selected two picks earlier than Ben — pick 4 to St Kilda, pick 6 to Gold Coast (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
What are the physical similarities?
The stats confirm their near-identical build and origin:
- Both were born on 7 July 2000 in Melbourne, Victoria (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
- They are identical twins and both play as key forwards in the AFL (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
The implication: while they share a birthday and a position, their paths diverged at the draft table and have followed very different club trajectories.
What is Ben King famous for?
Ben King’s AFL career highlights
- He was drafted with pick 6 in the 2018 AFL national draft by the Gold Coast Suns (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
- He produced a career-best 71 goals in the previous season (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
- He is leading the 2025 Coleman Medal race with 26 goals (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
Ben King’s role at Gold Coast Suns
- He occupies the full-forward role as the Suns’ primary target inside 50 (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
- His marking ability is a defining trait; he ranks 4th in the league for marks inside 50 in 2025.
The catch: King has cemented himself as the Suns’ offensive lynchpin, a role that makes his free agency decision so consequential for the club’s structural future.
Is Ben King a good player?
Ben King’s 2025 season statistics
- Ranked 4th in the AFL for marks inside 50 in 2025.
- Ranked 11th in the league for contested marks in 2025.
- Leading the Coleman Medal race with 26 goals at the time of the latest AFL reporting (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
- Reportedly, 94% of his kicks were shots at goal this season, according to a Gold Coast Bulletin (local news outlet) analysis.
Comparison to other AFL forwards
These numbers place him among the elite key forwards in the competition. His combination of volume (marks inside 50) and accuracy (shot conversion) is rare.
The pattern: his statistics place him firmly among the elite key forwards in the competition.
Is Ben King a free agent?
Free agency puts Ben King in the driver’s seat, but the restricted tag means Gold Coast can match any offer and force a trade. His next move will define the Suns’ forward structure for a generation.
Ben King’s contract situation
- Ben King is one of only six restricted free agents in the competition in 2025 (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
- Gold Coast has tabled a two-year deal that would take him through to the end of 2028 (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
- The AFL report estimates the offer is worth around $1.3 million per year (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
What ‘served his time’ means
- Gold Coast head coach Damien Hardwick publicly backed King, stating, “He’s served his time,” during the free agency period (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
- Collingwood and Hawthorn are among the clubs chasing Ben King, with Geelong also reported as interested (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
The pattern: his restricted free agency status places Ben in a powerful negotiating position, but the Suns hold the final card if he receives an external offer.
Who are the parents of Ben and Max King?
Family background of the King twins
- Their parents are John and Jan King (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
- Both twins grew up in Victoria and played junior football together before entering the AFL draft (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
The upshot: the support system for the twins has been a consistent factor in their journeys, with both making the leap from Victorian junior football to the AFL’s senior stage.
The numbers tell a story of two forwards on parallel tracks:
| Attribute | Ben King | Max King |
|---|---|---|
| AFL Club | Gold Coast Suns (Wikipedia) | St Kilda (Wikipedia) |
| Height | 202 cm (Wikipedia) | 204 cm (Wikipedia) |
| Draft Pick | 6 (2018) (AFL) | 4 (2018) (AFL) |
| Born | 7 July 2000 (Wikipedia) | |
| Position | Forward | |
Ben King’s player profile is built around elite forward craft:
| Attribute | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ben King | Wikipedia |
| Date of birth | 7 July 2000 | Wikipedia |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria | Wikipedia |
| Height | 202 cm | Wikipedia |
| AFL club | Gold Coast Suns | Wikipedia |
| Draft | Pick 6, 2018 AFL national draft | AFL |
| Twin | Max King (St Kilda) | Wikipedia |
| Career-best goals in a season | 71 | AFL |
| 2025 Coleman Medal goals | 26 | AFL |
| Free agent type | Restricted free agent (2025) | AFL |
Timeline signal
Drafted by the Gold Coast Suns with pick 6 in the AFL national draft (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
Developed as a key forward, signing three two-year extensions and gradually increasing his impact. Produced a career-best 71 goals in the previous season (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
Emerged as one of the competition’s most sought-after restricted free agents. Leading the Coleman Medal race with 26 goals, ranked 4th in marks inside 50, and 11th in contested marks. Gold Coast tabled a two-year offer worth a reported $1.3 million per year (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
The trajectory: from draft pick to free agency, King’s career has followed a steady upward curve.
What we know for sure
Confirmed facts
- Ben King plays for the Gold Coast Suns (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
- He is an identical twin to Max King (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
- He is a restricted free agent as of 2025 (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
- He was drafted pick 6 in 2018 (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
- He is 202 cm tall (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
What’s unclear
- Exact contract details and final salary figure (AFL (competition’s official governing body) reports an estimate of $1.3 million per year).
- Whether he will re-sign with Gold Coast or move to a Victorian rival (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
- Exact number of AFL games played to date.
- His playing weight.
The breakdown separates verified facts from still-unresolved details about King’s future.
Key quotes
“He’s served his time. He’s an in-demand free agent.”
— Damien Hardwick, Gold Coast Suns head coach (AFL (competition’s official governing body))
“Gold Coast has tabled a two-year deal to Ben King as he considers his future.”
— AFL spokesperson
For the Gold Coast Suns, the decision is clear: table a competitive extension that matches his value, or face the prospect of losing one of the league’s premier forwards to a Victorian rival. For Ben King, the choice is about legacy as much as dollars.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Ben King’s nationality?
Ben King is Australian. He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 7 July 2000 (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
What position does Ben King play?
He plays as a key forward, specifically full-forward, for the Gold Coast Suns in the AFL (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
How tall is Ben King?
Ben King stands at 202 cm tall (Wikipedia (football encyclopedia)).
What draft pick was Ben King?
He was selected with pick 6 in the 2018 AFL national draft by the Gold Coast Suns (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
Has Ben King won any individual awards?
While he has not yet won a major individual award, he is leading the 2025 Coleman Medal race with 26 goals following a career-best 71-goal season (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
What is Ben King’s contract worth?
The Gold Coast Suns have tabled a two-year deal reported to be worth around $1.3 million per year, aiming to keep him through to the end of 2028 (AFL (competition’s official governing body)).
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