Despite it seeming unlikely that first-year Gold Coast forward Ben King will leave the club at the end of the season, Kane Cornes believes the Saints should not even attempt to lure him out of the door this year.
St Kilda has Ben’s brother in Max on their list and has been open about their desire to reunite the brothers at some stage in the future.
However, Cornes said they should at least wait until next year before going after him.
“I just think it’s a terrible look. It’s against the spirit of the game to go and target a player who has been drafted and spent one year at the club. He’s in his first contract,” he told Telstra AFL Trade Radio.
“I think it would be a shocking look for St Kilda. I think it would be a shocking look for the AFL in general.
“Already there’s a call that we should be signing first-round draft picks to a minimum of four years, can you imagine what the AFL would be thinking if a first-year player gets out of his contract after one year at a struggling club.
“I just think there’s a bit of respect there from St Kilda that at least, if they’re going to have a crack, wait until he comes out of contract.”
Ben King had a strong debut season, playing 14 games, kicking 17 goals and winning the AFL’s Grand Final sprint.