Gold Coast star Ben King will miss the 2022 season after rupturing his ACL

A Gold Coast star will miss all of 2022 after confirmation of a serious knee injury.

Ben King of the Suns (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The worst news has been confirmed for the Gold Coast Suns with star forward Ben King to miss the entire 2022 AFL season after scans confirmed he had ruptured his ACL.

King was sent for scans yesterday afternoon after the 21-year-old key forward went down in a marking contest during Thursday’s training session.

The club confirmed the worst news on Friday morning.

“Unfortunately Ben’s ruptured his ACL in his right knee in a pretty simple marking contest that he’d been in many times before,”Suns General Manager of Football Performance Wayne 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.”

The club will consult with its medical team, specialists and Ben in the coming days before deciding on the best course of action for rehabilitation.

Devastated. Scans have confirmed what we feared for Ben King.

We’re all behind you Kingy ❤️💛https://t.co/tJkqKyYfip

— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) February 10, 2022

King’s twin brother, St Kilda footballer Max King, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in their 2018 draft year, which saw Ben swung from defence into the forward line for Sandringham Dragons.

Max didn’t make his AFL debut until the opening round of 2020, whereas Ben had already established himself in the Suns’ best side by that stage.

Ben King had his best season yet last year, kicking 47 goals from 22 games to only enhance his standing in the game.

The Saints have made no secret of their want to lure him to the club and partner him with Max but Gold Coast is equally desperate to keep him as their key forward of the present and future.

#BREAKING@GoldCoastSUNS star Ben King has left training early with a suspected knee injury. Hit the ground after a marking contest clutching his right knee. Only 7NEWS cameras were there.@AFL@7NewsGoldCoast@7NewsBrisbane@7NewsMelbourne@cleary_mitchpic.twitter.com/SKXgKTArRg

— Mitchell Kroehn (@mitchkroehn) February 10, 2022

King’s agent, Robbie D’Orazio, of Connors Sports Management, has been critical of how openly opposition clubs, particularly St Kilda, have been about their pursuit of his 200cm-plus client.

“Disappointed is probably the wrong word,” he told AFL Trade Radio in October.

“I understand you guys (media) have got a job to do and it’s my job to manage players and direct them in what I think is best for them.

“I wasn’t disappointed; I’d just like to say that I think the commentary around Ben has been disrespectful from the start.

“If you go back three years ago on draft night; a footy club actually tweeted, ‘Looking forward to seeing you in two years’. I haven’t had that in my time, and I’ve done this for over a decade now.

“I think from the top, no-one gave Gold Coast or Ben King an opportunity to cement himself from the outset.

“I just think if you’re commenting on other players at such a young age while they’re establishing their careers – I might be wrong – but I don’t think that’s respectful for the player and the club that’s picked him.”