Ben King spearheading new-look Gold Coast Suns forward line

He’s been one of the most promising tall forwards in the competition since his debut in 2019 and as Gold Coast Suns forward Ben King prepares for his 100th AFL game, 2025 could be the year he etches his name in history. Details here.

Ben King of the Suns kicks a goal during the 2025 AFL Round 05 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Gold Coast Suns. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Gold Coast Suns star forward Ben King may not like to admit it, but he is a genuine Coleman Medal threat in 2025.

The 24-year-old has taken his game to new heights in 2025 with 17 goals in just four games, and sits tied at the top of the Coleman Medal leaderboard.

The Suns tall timber was in contention for much of the 2024 season but eventually ended the year in fourth, 14 goals shy of eventual winner Jesse Hogan.

However, with a Suns forward line kicking goals like never before, there has never been a greater opportunity for King to become the club’s first ever Coleman medallist.

“It’s obviously nice to be kicking goals and leading the Coleman,” King said.

“But that doesn’t happen without my teammates up the field doing all the hard work to get the ball into the forward line and I’ve been lucky enough to get on the end of a couple of great team goals.

“To be honest I’m more invested in the team success. Individual accolades are nice but I’d much prefer to be winning games as a team than kicking plenty of goals as an individual.

“Being in the leadership group now I know I’ve got the added responsibility to make sure I’m helping those around me in the forward line and bringing others into the game.”

King’s stellar start has been contagious to the rest of the Suns’ forwards, with the team scoring at a level which has not been seen on the Glitter Strip in more than a decade.

Between 2018 and 2024, the Suns scored 120 points or more just three times which included a four-season stretch between 2018 and 2021 where the team did not reach that feat once.

This year, Gold Coast reached the 120-point mark in three of its opening four games.

Unsurprisingly, the 202cm tall forward said this recent stretch has been one of the highlights of his 99-game career.

Ben King of the Suns celebrates a goal during the round four AFL match between Gold Coast Suns and Adelaide Crows. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“We’ve had patches over my career where we’ve played some good footy for a couple of games in a row but it hasn’t really felt like this where the brand and identity of our footy is really strong,” he said.

“It’s definitely as excited as I’ve ever been to be at this club and play football this weekend.”

King revealed what it meant to bring up his 100th game this weekend against the Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium.

“It means a lot, growing up all I ever wanted to do was play AFL footy and when I played that first game it was really special and to think ahead now that I’ve played 100, I don’t know if I would have believed myself as a 15 year old kid so it’s really special,” he said.

“Hopefully a few get down, my family, my girlfriend and my mates will all be there so it will be special to play in front of all them.

“I don’t get to do it a whole lot throughout the year, so can’t wait.

“It will be special enough just to see them and have them there, I will stay an extra night and hang out with them after the game so looking forward to it.”