Ben eyes twin challenge
Suns new boy targets showdown with brother
SUNS swingman Ben King has already marked Sunday, March 24 in the diary as he prepares for a possible 2019 showdown with twin brother Max.
Taken by Gold Coast with pick no.6 in last week’s AFL Draft, teenage giant King could find himself squaring off against his brother – St Kilda’s no.4 selection – if the planets align in Round 1 next year.
Perhaps fatefully, the Suns and Saints will do battle in their season opener at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium in what could be a first for the King siblings.
While key forward Max’s 2018 campaign was cut short by a knee reconstruction in April, Sandringham teammate Ben (pictured) split his time between both ends of the park as the Dragons fought to fill the void left by his brother. “(We’ve never played) against each other, we’ve always been on the same team so it would be interesting lining up on him,” 18-year-old Ben, a towering 202cm, said.
“It is a little bit weird (to be at different clubs) but we’ve kind of thought about it for a long time in the lead-up to the draft so we both got our head around the fact there’s a high likelihood we’ll be split up. We’re just both happy for each other to be at AFL clubs and we’ll get to see each other in the breaks and stuff so we’ll be fine.
“I’ll definitely be aiming for a run in the top side next year but there is still a lot of time so a lot of hard work, putting on some size and getting as fit as possible before then.
“I’m really not sure (where I might play), I guess wherever they need me but I think the plan is to train forward and back and just swap in between those groups so we’ll see where Stuey (Dew, coach) wants to play me.”
Having only visited the Coast for football reasons prior to being drafted, King said he was still adjusting to the Queensland heat but was “stoked” to join the Suns. SOUTHPORT Sharks will have to wait to repeat their grand final win over Sydney Swans in the North East Australian Football League.
NEAFL fixtures for 2019 were released yesterday with the Sharks and Swans not playing until Round 15.
Southport will also have a repeat of their Good Friday clash against Canberra.
An all-Coast clash between Southport and Gold Coast Suns will happen in Round 11.
NEAFL operations manager Luke Gatti said the fixture aims to build on a successful 2018 season, the most competitive on record.
“Our goal for the 2019 NEAFL fixture was to enable our clubs to engage with their communities and supporters by adding extra Sunday games, and additional matches on Good Friday, Friday night and in Alice Springs,” he said.
“We are pleased our traditional clashes in ANZAC Round between Redland and NT Thunder, and Friday night between Sydney Swans and Sydney University, were able to be maintained.
“We are confident the 2019 fixture will allow for another competitive and exciting season for football in the northern states.”
Clubs will have three byes and a three-week finals series of the top six teams remains.
The first round kicks off on April 6 with the Suns taking on Canberra Demons and Southport Sharks facing Redland Bombers.