BACK OFF KING

Manager of Suns young gun slams ‘disrespect’

BEN King’s manager has demanded rival clubs back off the third-year forward after continued speculation about an imminent return to Victoria.

King has been linked to a range of trade scenarios with Melbourne clubs in coming weeks, St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis even cheekily saying mid-year he would “look good” in a Saints jumper.

Former Port Adelaide player Kane Cornes said Victorian clubs should be “chips in” on King, with Essendon the perfect fit. Bombers legend Matthew Lloyd has said King could take the club to “the promised land”.

The young Gold Coast spearhead will have a decision to make on his future if the Suns again underperform next year, given he will fall out of contract after a two-year extension signed last year.

But his manager Robbie D’Orazio on Thursday said he hoped King would be given a chance to thrive without speculation about his loyalty.

“He has been continuously linked to rivals and it’s disrespectful that it has been spoken about when all he’s trying to do is win at Gold Coast,” he said.

“He is a 21-year-old trying to learn his craft.

“And he’s had to put up with all the speculation for the past three years, literally since draft night.

“It’s disrespectful to the Suns as well and I know for a fact Ben doesn’t like or want the attention.

“The last conversation I had with him when we caught up was how excited he was about the list and group and how he had full faith in the coaching department and club.

“We only did his contract last year and he kicked 47 goals in a bottom-four team.

“Gold Coast are doing everything right, and getting Mabior Chol (from Richmond) helps him.

“And they have been nothing but fantastic for Ben.”

The tight-knit young Suns are determined to build something after so many underperforming seasons.

King, Izak Rankine and Jack Lukosius re-signed after only single seasons at the club in deals that will expire at the end of the season.

The Suns will put a contract offer to King again over summer and he remains a chance to commit before round 1 for several seasons.

News Corp revealed this year in its annual rich list King was being paid $650,000 a season, with the AFL also paying him a promotional allowance.

The AFL has scoffed at speculation it would help fund a $2m-per-year deal for Alastair Clarkson to coach Gold Coast in 2023 if Dew was sacked next year.

But Dew will go into his fifth year under intense pressure, aware he must show considerable improvement to guarantee his job.