By Nick Wright
Gold Coast Suns star Ben King has implored one of the AFL’s most promising talents to take a leaf out of a rival champion’s book, in his bid to justify the hype surrounding him.
Jed Walter was selected at No.3 last year’s draft, and loomed as a contender to West Coast Eagles star Harley Reid for the No.1 honour, but the 19-year-old’s maiden season was initially disrupted by a broken collarbone.
He went on to play 14 games in his debut season – kicking 11 goals – while spending time in the VFL.
Jed Walter came into his debut season in 2024 as one of the most highly-touted prospects in the AFL.Credit: Getty
Now King has declared Walter would use the experience to become a game-changing forward.
Cam Rayner, the Lions’ 2017 No.1 pick, was subject to criticism for six years – judged to have shown bursts of his potential, while failing to consistently piece it together.
That changed in 2024 in the 25-year-old’s premiership-winning campaign, when he achieved personal best hauls for goals (31), goal assists (21), disposals (414), clearances (64), inside 50s (98) and contested possessions (198).
King said criticism came with the territory of being one of the game’s vaunted youngsters.
But he backed Walter to thrive under the pressure, while taking heed from how Rayner found his mojo.
“Everyone develops at different rates. Harley Reid was obviously a ready-made player from the start, while some guys might take two, three, four years to hit their straps,” King said.
“Pressure’s all part of it. Jed’s got that pressure because he’s a really good player, and I’ve got no doubt he’ll be a really good player at AFL level.
“You learn a lot along the way, sometimes you fall into the trap of reading articles and paying attention to what the media are saying.
“But ultimately, you’re going to feel pretty grim and not play as well as if you were just focusing on footy.
“It takes time to learn about the ups and downs of that, but it’s all part of it.”
Walter discovered quickly he could not rely on the size and strength he had used to dominate the junior ranks.
King admitted it had taken him “a few years to get used to guys whacking you”.
But the 24-year-old has since gone on a tear – kicking 142 goals from his past 64 games – as he revealed Walter had worked tirelessly in the off-season to become focal in the Suns’ 2025 plans.
“It’s tough being a young key forward. You’re playing on guys with really mature bodies, who have been playing the game for a long time and can bash you up a bit as well,” King said.
“Jed’s a lot more advanced than me in terms of his body coming in which is really strong, but I was very skinny coming in. But once you get used to it, it’s just part of the game.
“It takes a little bit of time to get used to it, but I feel like he’s definitely ready to have a great year.”