AFL 2024: Gold Coast Suns spearhead Ben King enjoying career-best season ahead of Curnow, McKay showdown

Ben King’s incredible form has shot him to the top of the Coleman Medal tally, making for a mouthwatering encounter with Carlton stars Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay this weekend.

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA - MAY 16: Ben King of the Suns celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 10 match between The Gold Coast SUNS and The Geelong Cats at TIO Stadium on May 16, 2024 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Gold Coast spearhead Ben King has quietly captured the joint-lead in the Coleman Medal race and is on-track for a career-best campaign as the Suns target a maiden finals berth in 2024.

With the constant speculation of his future behind him after signing a two-year extension earlier this season, King has become a measure of consistency inside 50 for the Suns and major reason they currently sit inside the top eight.

His bag of four against Geelong last Thursday made it 13 majors in four games and moved him into a four-way tie for the Coleman Medal lead on 29 goals.

King has kicked two or more goals in all-but one game this season and at least three majors on six occasions.

Ben King has kicked 13 goals in four games. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

His only goalless game came in the rain-affected clash against Adelaide in round 1 on a night not suited to key forwards.

Averaging just shy of three goals per game in 2024, King is on track to shatter his previous best tally of 47 from 22 matches in 2021.

“Every game that goes by I’m feeling more confident and more connected with the blokes around me and better in this new system as well,” King told this masthead.

The 23-year-old booted 40 goals last season off the back of an ACL injury that kept him sidelined for the entirety of 2022.

Despite topping the Suns’ goalkicking tally, King revealed he was still disappointed by his output last year and set himself for a resurgent campaign under new coach Damien Hardwick.

“Last year I was very up and down,” he said. “In patches I played good footy and in patches I didn’t.

“I had pretty high expectations coming off the knee and probably fell short last year which was challenging, but it’s given me a lot to work on in the off-season, pre-season and throughout this season to build my consistency and confidence.”

Gold Coast is the No. 1 inside 50 team in the competition this year – rarefied air for a side that has only ranked in the top eight for that stat twice in the 18-team era and never as high as fifth.

King signed a two-year contract extension in February to remain at the Suns. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Their previous best season, 2022, was the year King missed through injury. He has never had this kind of supply before.

“It definitely helps when the mids and backs are moving the ball so well and it’s coming in a lot. I’m lucky in that sense, too,” he said.

“Our whole midfield core has been unbelievable this year … it’s scary to think of what they can get to in the next few years.

“Noah (Anderson) and Rowelly (Matt Rowell) particularly came in and were always highly talented but their work rate is the thing that stands out to everyone, so it’s no great surprise they’re doing so well and improving so rapidly.”

With King hitting career-best form it adds another layer of intrigue to a suddenly mouth-watering Saturday afternoon clash with Carlton at Marvel Stadium.

The Blues have lost four of their past six matches and tumbled outside the eight for the first time this season.

A Gold Coast win this weekend could prove crucial in the run to September.

In Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay the Blues have produced the past three Coleman Medal winners.

Curnow’s stunning second half helped propel the Blues from 40 points down to knock off the Suns late last season and secure Carlton’s first finals berth in a decade.

Charlie Curnow booted five goals to sink the Suns last season. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

The Blues’ spearhead booted seven goals in two wins over the Suns last season. King meanwhile has kicked just three goals in five career outings against the Blues – his worst output against any opposition.

King was asked if he felt any more pressure to perform this weekend given the caliber of key forward at the opposite end of the ground.

“None more so than in other games I think,” he said.

“They’re both really strong key forwards and guys I’ve watched over the years and tried to learn from as well. You always want to test yourself against the best.

“Hopefully our backs can get the best of those guys this week.”