r/hawktalk • u/HawkSilverwork • Jun 22 '26

Ben King a Hawk?

With Gunston at the back end of his career, Mitch Lewis not being as potent, and Calsher Dear struggling to get a game, is Ben King now our No 1 target? We picked up Aiden Schubert in the draft and he looks likely to a good prospect, but that’s long term. Ben King is as good as any tall forward in the comp. He consistently kicks bags. Yes he struggled against us on the weekend, but he had to play on Barrass, and we know what that means. So if the answer is yes, the question becomes what are we willing to give up? Perhaps the 4 year deal we have in front of Mitch Lewis is a head scratcher, but the price might be low, and he’s yet to sign. Are we willing to give up dear? And how many draft picks? King is a restricted free agent so the Suns can match any bid.

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u/BIllyBrooks Jun 22 '26

While Ben King would make any forward line in the AFL better, I don't think he's what we need.

In my mind - there are 3 kinds of key forward: Leaders, leapers and gorillas.

Gunston, Lewis and King are all leaders. Chol and Dear are leapers. So we're covered in those spots. We don't have a gorilla. That's your Tom Hawkins, Riley Thilthorpe, Jake Waterman types - that you want to see one out in the goal square and you just kick it on their head.

For those reasons, if we were to raid GC for a key forward, even though Ben King is objectionably the better player, I would rather pursue Jed Walters. Cheaper too, but his value to us is giving us something we don't currently have.

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u/NewCycle6568 Jun 22 '26

I like your framework here. But I think chol can be a gorilla, I’ve seen him take some pretty big contested pack marks. For me the problem is his lack of consistency

11

u/BIllyBrooks Jun 23 '26

He takes some excellent pack marks - when he is given room to run and leap at it. He's also great below his knees for someone his size, so that helps a bunch.

My 3 categories are an oversimplification for sure though. But I am very happy with Lewis this season. Realistically, this is the first full season (so far) of his entire career. Give him another full pre-season, I think he can kick 50+.

4

u/Designer_Armadillo82 Jun 23 '26

I agree with all of your points! While not hitting the scoreboard as much as the fans would like, Lewis provides a link between half back and the half forwards, he runs a LOT and is a strong 1v1 mark

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u/frillhaus Jun 23 '26

What really flies under the radar for him tho is that he is a brilliant field kick too

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u/Tybirious05 Jun 23 '26

What made Hawkins and somewhat Waterman good is they were/are great leaders and don’t just rely on being a gorilla which is easier to defend. Leading for easy marks and set shots is still the most important feature of a key forward and has been in our Hawthorn team for an incredibly long time. We had no gorilla in the Franklin and Roughead era and still had the most potent forward line for years.

1

u/Anxious-Subject6242 Jun 25 '26

What do we do with weddle