Trade talk: The factor holding up Ben King's contract decision

SEN’s Tom Morris has given an update regarding the contract situation of Suns forward Ben King.

It’s been a stellar season for King, who’s proven to be a dead-eye in front of goal, converting 77.6% of his shots on goal through the big sticks.

As a result, he currently leads the Coleman Medal with 38 goals from 12 games.

And with the key forward coming out of contract at the end of the season, the 25-year-old has a big call to make in the coming weeks.

Currently, the Suns are the favourites to land his signature for an additional two years despite the best efforts of several Victorian clubs to lure King home.

But as Morris explains, there is still one factor that needs to be sorted before he signs on the dotted line.

“My understanding is Ben King would like to stay on a two-year deal at the Gold Coast Suns that's been offered to him,” Morris said on SEN’s Crunch Time.

“The holdup is family-related. His partner wants to come back to Melbourne, and he's been unable to convince her so far that they should stay on the Gold Coast.

“So, several weeks ago, Gold Coast and Ben King's manager Robbie D’Orazio agreed on financial terms. This happened earlier in the season.

“It's in the vicinity of $2.5 million across two years, so ‘27 and ‘28, maybe even a little bit more.

“That contract has been set in stone for a while, and it's ready to sign whenever Ben King wants to sign it and agrees with his partner that they should be staying.”

Following this concern, the Suns have attempted to ease those concerns to retain King at the same club that drafted him.

“Now the club (is) aware that there's pushback from Ben's partner,” he added.

“Given (the) close ties to Melbourne, (the contract) has built-in (clauses for) flights back home within the salary cap, among a range of other measures to help out and convince him to stay, which so far hasn't been successful.

“But the answer at the moment is I'm still not ready to sign, and he said that to his manager when Robbie flew to the Gold Coast last week.

“There is still confidence he'll stay, but as every week goes by, no one can do anymore, cos everyone around him is advising him that he should stay.

“But his partner has other views, and you've gotta respect that given this is a family decision to make.”

King and the Suns will make the trip to Geelong this week, with Gold Coast playing the Cats this Friday at GMHBA Stadium.

The match begins at 7:40pm AEST.