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Trade talk: Suns star wants to play for Hawthorn
SEN • July 13th, 2026 9:52 am
Ben King is eager to get to Hawthorn this trade period, according to SEN’s Tom Morris.
The Gold Coast spearhead is out of contract at the end of this season as a restricted free agent, and has so far held off re-signing with the Suns.
Morris reported last month that King was open to staying at the Suns on a two-year deal, however, the holdup relates to his partner who is keen to move back to Melbourne.
And now it seems as though the 26-year-old is eager to return to his home town to play for the Hawks.
“My belief this morning is Ben King is far more likely to want to get to Hawthorn,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.
“I think there’s a big deal coming for him there.”
Co-host Sam Edmund intervened: “As it sits right now on July 13, Ben King wants to get to Hawthorn?”
Morris replied: “Correct.”
Edmund: “So when will he communicate that to Gold Coast?”
Morris: “I don’t know.”
Edmund: “And how do Hawthorn get that done?”
Morris: “They’re going to need to offer some picks up because the Suns will match that bid.”
Edmund: “There’s no deal in the world that Hawthorn are going to offer that Gold Coast will be happy with is there?
“How do Hawthorn get that done? How?”
Morris: “No, it’s going to be pretty messy.
“What will happen is Gold Coast will say, ‘We’re not doing that deal?’.
Hawthorn will say, ‘Hang on, he’s out of contract, we can offer whatever we want. If needed we can walk him’.
Hawthorn will say, ‘Hang on, he’s out of contract, we can offer whatever we want. If needed we can walk him’.
“The flow-on effect is significant. This effects Calsher Dear, Mitch Lewis, Zach Merrett and Bailey Humphrey. What Ben King decides to do is massive.
“He hasn’t formally told the Suns that but I do believe he wants play for the Hawks next year.”
King has booted 47 goals this year which has him sitting second behind Sydney’s Charlie Curnow in the Coleman Medal race.
