Ben King would not wish to merely “bridge the gap” in his AFL comeback, declaring Gold Coast are able to something and he will not be tempering his personal expectations regardless of a yr on the sidelines.
A knee reconstruction meant the off-contract key ahead did not play for the Suns in 2022.
But King nonetheless resisted Melbourne-based curiosity to decide to the membership that fell simply two wins shy of a maiden finals tilt.
With King flying once more, there’s optimism at Metricon Stadium, and the 22-year-old is not shying away from it.
“I don’t want to temper my expectations at all,” King, who’s contracted till no less than the tip of subsequent season, advised AAP.
“I’ve done the work and am confident I can play my best football and improve on the last season I played.
“I do not need that yr of bridging the hole – I’m able to go, and I’ve acquired excessive expectations.”
King kicked 47 goals in 22 games during the 2021 season, the Suns surviving without him in 2022 thanks to the successful recruitment of Carlton’s Levi Casboult and Richmond’s Mabior Chol.
Joel Jeffrey, Malcolm Rosas Jnr, Alex Sexton and Jack Lukosius are among a crowded list giving coach Stuart Dew plenty of options.
“We’re able to something, to be trustworthy,” King said of the Suns’ forward line.
“We’re very versatile … it’ll be a troublesome ahead line to choose, however that is what we would like, that choice strain.”
Midfield gun Touk Miller admitted there were some nervous moments watching King fly into a pack during Friday’s intra-club trial.
“You maintain your breath a tiny bit, however he comes out of it OK and also you get plenty of confidence out of it,” Miller stated.
“It was a very thrilling second for the membership to see him absolutely match.
“It’s been so long since we’ve had him, and you get a taste for it when you watch his twin brother (Max) play for St Kilda.
“He’s a high-profile participant, so there’s going to be scrutiny, and he will play some good video games, some dangerous video games.
“But it’s not what he does in the first five games, it’s what he does over the next 10 years.”
King is not involved by the exterior commentary, his stint on the sidelines simply reinforcing his profession selection.
“I’ve sort of realised how much I love the game itself, because I’d never had a spell my whole career,” he stated of what he had missed most.
“There’s nothing quite like playing actual football.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
