Ben King says he spent more time worrying about pre-season than his Suns contract

Ben King’s off-season was dominated by trade speculation but the young forward admitted he lost more sleep over the start of pre-season than his decision to re-sign with the Suns.

BEN King’s off-season was dominated by trade speculation but the young forward admitted he lost more sleep over the start of pre-season than his decision to re-sign with the Suns.

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The 2019 AFL rising star nominee last month put trade talk to bed when he committed to the club until the end of 2022, baulking at the chance to reunite with his twin brother Max at St Kilda.

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The 19-year-old and his Suns teammates kicked off their 2020 pre-season with the customary 2km time trial on Monday morning before returning to the club for skills training.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 04: Ben King handballs during a Gold Coast Suns AFL media and training session at Metricon Stadium on November 04, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

While King said making a decision on his playing future was easy, it was the dreaded 2km fitness test that had consumed much of his thought.

“I’m probably more nervous before a two-k’er than I am before a game,” he said.

“Last night, I didn’t sleep too much but I’m glad it’s over and we get to get back into training now.

“I enjoyed the break back in Melbourne but I was chomping at the bit to get back into it as well.”

THE SIGN BUDARICK IS HERE FOR THE LONG RUN

Josh Schoenfeld again proved why he is one of the best runners at the club by taking out the time trial while Jacob Dawson and Jesse Joyce rounded out the top three.

King joined a spate of Suns rising stars, including Touk Miller, Will Brodie and Darcy MacPherson, to re-sign with the club after losing big names like Jaeger O’meara, Dion Prestia, Gary Ablett, Tom Lynch and Steven May to Victorian clubs in recent years.

=Ben King of the Suns marks the ball during the round 18 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium on July 20, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

“The only thing that mattered to me was what I was thinking and I was loving my time up here so it was an obvious decision for me,” King said.

“It speaks volumes about the culture and the future this group has ahead of them and that players are confident in the direction we’re heading.”

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The teenager said he’d use the off-season to build his 202cm frame after playing 14 games in 2019.

“The focus for me is putting on size and strength and building my tank so I’ll do a lot more load than last pre-season now that my body has matured a bit,” he said.

“I feel like I’ve got a head start on my pre-season last year already.”