CLASH OF THE KINGS
GOLD Coast’s Ben King has the opportunity to square things up in the annual King family showdown when the Suns host St Kilda at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Both clubs have started the season with a 3-4 winloss record, with both claiming a victory last weekend, but the big talking point leading into the match has been about identical King brothers — Ben and Max — locking horns for the second time in their AFL careers.
The 20-year-old Victorian products may be playing on opposite ends of the field on Saturday but that won’t stand in the way of a bit of sibling rivalry.
“It is always good lining up against Ben,” St Kilda’s Max King said. “We talk every week, so this week won’t be very different.
“I’m one-nil up in our games at the moment, so I have been reminding him of that a little bit, but yeah it’s always a good opportunity to play against each other.”
Ben has been in fine form for the Suns so far this season, kicking 20 goals in 11 games including a mammoth five-goal haul against the Swans a fortnight ago.
Such has been his goalkicking this year,
St Kilda defender Dougal Howard this week spoke to his twin brother Max for some pointers on how to rattle him.
“I will spend a bit of time on him (Ben),” Howard said on SEN Radio this week.
“I was speaking to Max the other day to try and get a bit of dirt on his brother.
“They’re both pretty similar to play on.
“They’re both going to be premier forwards of the comp in the next 10 years so it’s another challenge.”
Meanwhile, Max has also kicked a handy 11 goals in six matches to set up an enticing battle of the forwards.
“Growing up with a twin brother especially, you are always pushing each other, especially when you have the same goal of making it to AFL,” Max said.
“You always want to help each other and see each other do better.”