Gold Coast believe new deal for Ben King is close following his ACL injury

Ben King’s ACL injury has fuelled speculation about his future as rivals try to lure him from Gold Coast. But a decision from the key forward looks imminent while his future could already be sealed. DISCOVER HOW CONTRACT TALKS ARE PLACED HERE.

BEN King’s future at the Suns is virtually sealed with club powerbrokers of the belief a new deal is close.

King’s ACL injury has sent a shockwave through the club ahead of one of the biggest season’s in its history.

But any fears it could tip him towards the exit are non-existent within the four walls of the club.

Officials are confident a deal could be done before the 2022 AFL season, even with the likelihood of this week’s knee injury stalling discussions momentarily.

Club officials believe a deal for Ben King is close. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

King has been vocal about his love for the Suns around the club’s Carrara base, openly speaking of his passion for the players, staff and city while discussing his commitment to them.

The final makeup of the contract hasn’t been finalised but King is looking at penning a two-year extension that will take him through to the end of the 2024 season.

King’s injury on Thursday left many shattered at Gold Coast as they prepare for a 2022 AFL campaign.

Stuart Dew is off contract at the end of the year, along with King, Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine while those in and outside of the club expect the team to challenge for finals.

Suns football performance manager Wayne Campbell said the club was putting enormous support around King after his injury.

“Unfortunately Ben’s ruptured his ACL in his right knee in a pretty simple marking contest that he’d been in many times before,” Campbell said.

“Ben’s going well, whenever someone goes down with an ACL it’s shattering for a start.

“He’s got a really strong family and we’ve got some really good support around him from the footy club, it’s not ideal by any stretch but we know Ben’s strength of character will see him attack the challenge in a positive manner.”

EARLIER:

The game must go on.

That is the message of AFL powerbrokers who informed chief executives and football managers at every club on Tuesday as they confirmed plans to implement top up protocols that will enable the league to avoid postponing games due to Covid outbreaks.

It will mean AFL clubs bring in state league players not currently listed to fill the void left by those forced out due to Covid.

Gold Coast Suns player Noah Anderson, West Coast’s Tim Kelly and Richmond’s Dustin Martin.

The AFLW season has already been hit multiple times due to the spread of the Omicron variant at clubs and forced to postpone games.

The AFL is eager for all games to go ahead as planned, even if Covid ravages lists and hinders the availability of players on any given week.

Most clubs have around 42-44 players on a list, with the Gold Coast Suns having slightly more wiggle room at 48.

The AFL hasn’t finalised exactly how the top up system will work but has all but ruled out having one large pool of players that all clubs can access in order to avoid a player featuring for multiple clubs across a few weeks.

Instead they are eager to allow clubs to take its list up to around 65 with the addition of players who can be called up directly to that club if required.

It hasn’t been confirmed yet if the additional players have to come from the one aligned VFL club or others in the same state as the AFL franchise.

The move could open the door for the likes of Nathan Freeman, who just missed out on securing a spot on Gold Coast’s list, the chance to play in the AFL with the Suns or another club.

Originally published as Gold Coast believe new deal for Ben King is close following his ACL injury