Ben King out to even the win-loss ledger with twin brother Max

Gold Coast’s Ben King has the opportunity to square things up in the annual King family showdown. But is someone giving the inside word.

Max King in action for the Saints. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Gold Coast’s Ben King has the opportunity to square things up in the annual King family showdown when the Suns host St Kilda at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Both clubs have started the season with a 3-4 win-loss record, with both claiming a victory last weekend, but the big talking point leading into the match has been about identical King brothers – Ben and Max – locking horns for the second time in their AFL careers.

The 20-year-old Victorian products may be playing on opposite ends of the field on Saturday but that won’t stand in the way of a bit of sibling rivalry.

“It is always good lining up against Ben,” St Kilda’s Max King said.

“We talk every week, so this week won’t be very different.

“I’m one-nil up in our games at the moment, so I have been reminding him of that a little bit, but yeah it’s always a good opportunity to play against each other.”

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Ben King and Max King will square off for the second time this week. Picture: Michael Klein

Ben has been in fine form for the Suns so far this season, kicking 20 goals in 11 games including a mammoth five goal haul against the Swans a fortnight ago.

Such has been his goalkicking this year, St Kilda defender Dougal Howard this week spoke to his twin brother Max for some pointers on how to rattle him.

“I will spend a bit of time on him (Ben),” Howard said on SEN Radio this week.

“I was speaking to Max the other day to try and get a bit of dirt on his brother.

“They’re both pretty similar to play on.

“They’re both going to be premier forwards of the comp in the next 10 years so it’s another challenge.”

Meanwhile Max has also kicked a handy 11 goals in six matches to set up an enticing battle of the forwards.

“Growing up with a twin brother especially, you are always pushing each other, especially when you have the same goal of making it to AFL,” Max said.

“You always want to help each other and see each other do better.

“That’s no different we are at different cubs, I love seeing him do well and he loves that for me as well.”

Both twins have become two of the most dangerous forwards in the competition so far this season and it’s a scary prospect to one day have the King brothers in the same side.

With the pair set to come off contract at the end of next season, both brothers ruled out the possibility of teaming up at the one club.

“I’m always in his ear, always chirping,” Ben said.

“He loves the weather up here.

Ben King and Max King go toe-to-toe in a marking contest during their first clash. Picture: Michael Klein

“He’s pretty happy down there though, so it’s all good.

“We’re just enjoying our time at our respective clubs and I know he’s loving it down there and I’m loving it up here so no talks of that.”

Max said he would leave the recruitment talks to St Kilda recruiter Graeme Allan instead.

“No I’m not quite in his ear, he’s happy up there at the moment, so I leave him to make his decisions for himself,” Max said.

“I stay out of that, Gubby (Allan) can do what he wants.”

KING HIT: STAR SAINT REVEALS STORY BEHIND GOLF COURSE KO

St Kilda spearhead Max King says he had no reservations returning to the golf course after getting knocked out by a wayward shot on the eve of Round 1.

Former teammate and friend Jack Bell hit the prized tall in the head with a long iron shot, leaving King concussed only days out from the season-opening win over GWS Giants.

Speaking about the incident for the first time on Wednesday, King said he was standing further ahead of his playing partner when he was struck.

“It was a bit frustrating for that to happen a week out from Round 1 but I’m over it now and feeling 100 per cent, so it was just a bit of a slip-up,” King said.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The big forward said he quickly alerted the club to the incident after he was hit.

King, who is one of the competition’s most exciting young goal kickers, said he didn’t see Bell’s shot.

“I just found my balance and called the docs. The club were pretty helpful with all of that, and took a lot of caution with it and made the right call in the end,” he said.

St Kilda star Max King missed Round 1 after being concussed while playing golf, but that hasn’t kept him off the course since. Picture: Michael Willson/Getty Images

While Saints’ coach Brett Ratten may have his reservations, King said it had not dented his keen interest in playing golf.

“(I’m) not quite banned,” he said.

“I have got out there a few times since. I’m back enjoying it.”

King has booted 11 goals from six games this season including two majors to help lead the Saints to a punishing 69-point win over Hawthorn on Saturday.

It leaves the 3-4 Saints needing another win against Gold Coast on Saturday when Max confronts his brother Ben’s team.

King said he was quick to remind his brother he was 1-0 up over his twin after St Kilda won the corresponding game in their first season in 2020.

King said the Saints had hopefully turned a corner against the Hawks after a slow start to the campaign.

“We have been pretty inconsistent to start (the season),” he said.

“We were very happy with how we played on the weekend.

“We needed to bounce back and make a bit of a statement and we did that.

“Hopefully each week we can keep building and play that consistent footy that we did on the weekend.”

Originally published as Ben King out to even the win-loss ledger with twin brother Max