Oppo Camp Opposition Watch

[SandyToes]

I think Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

25

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

's value to Collingwood is at all time highs.Will be a challenge to retain.

 

[Supersuns]

I think Ben King's value to Collingwood is at all time highs.Will be a challenge to retain.

Wont be a problem for another 2 years.

 

[Jirik13]

I think Ben King's value to Collingwood is at all time highs.Will be a challenge to retain.

Early in the season but Magpies look like dropping down the ladder. I think, it's not ideal place to go for Ben.

No inside info but I feel Ben will re-sign.

 

[SandyToes]

I agree he will likely sign a 2 year deal.But Collingwood will throw everything at him this year if he goes 70+ again.Or maybe Jed Walter if he's not getting game time?

 

[The Kings Ransom]

Didn't watch the game but saw that Xerri had only 17 hitouts for North.
His lowest in a game since 2023.
He averaged double that the last 2 years.

Wonder if that is an indication of how the game style has changed with new rules.
You would imagine, like Witts, he is one of the more affected rucks at the centre bounces + the reduced number of throw ins.

 

[Supersuns]

St Kilda spend all that money to be the exact same team is ****ing hilarious.

 

[MarcLocksCrustySock]

St Kilda spend all that money to be the exact same team is ****ing hilarious.

But they beat us in a preseason game

 

[Big Red Machine]

But they beat us in a preseason game

Their fans even sang "When the Saints go Marching in"

How could this have happened?

 

[MarcLocksCrustySock]

Their fans even sang "When the Saints go Marching in"

How could this have happened?

The best stories write themself!

 

[TheGoldPersons]

Gulden out 4 months
Huge for us

 

[SandyToes]

They celebrate everything

 

[lommy]

Flanders copping it in the media 2 weeks in a row, while Trac is just banking coaches and Brownlow votes

 

[TheGoldPersons]

 

[Southern Sun]

Flanders would be really missing qld life.

 

[Supersuns]

Bit hard when you dont have Rowell, Anderson and Miller taking all the attention for you

 

[RowellAnderson12]

Flanders copping it in the media 2 weeks in a row, while Trac is just banking coaches and Brownlow votes

Poor Flanders. Decent stats too. Not like he’s been invisible

 

[GC2015]

Flanders would be really missing qld life.

He asked for this. Playing pro footy in Melbourne is really only good if you're winning. Look at Curnow as a great example of a guy that looks like the weight of the world has been lifted from his shoulders now that he's living in Sydney and not getting bothered every day. The same can be said about Trac.

It's great for us in terms of future recruiting and retaining our players.

 

[cootagc]

I don’t think any of the footballers ask for it. They would understand it is worse in Victoria than the northern states. Disgraceful how the media make a living writing this stuff. It would have to impact some players mental health.

 

[Young_Guns]

Flanders has been exactly as advertised hasn’t he? It seems like Saints fans/Melbourne media were just expecting something they were never getting because they only ever watched him through stats on a page. Some Saints fans are even still suggesting to put him at half back…

 

[GC2015]

I don’t think any of the footballers ask for it. They would understand it is worse in Victoria than the northern states. Disgraceful how the media make a living writing this stuff. It would have to impact some players mental health.

What I meant is - Flanders asked for the trade back to his home state of Victoria knowing what it's like down there with the media. It's sink or swim when you go to a Victorian club and your new team pays a big price in terms of picks (pick 7) and salary cap room (reportedly $900k a year). Rightly or wrongly, there is an expectation from the Victorian footy public that Flanders will be a very good/superstar midfielder for St Kilda due to the price they paid and he hasn't lived up to that hype so far. It's just the way it is down there.

Flanders has been exactly as advertised hasn’t he? It seems like Saints fans/Melbourne media were just expecting something they were never getting because they only ever watched him through stats on a page. Some Saints fans are even still suggesting to put him at half back…

I think it's really being driven by the price St Kilda paid and the output not matching the price tag. Essendon gave up a third round pick for Fiorini and you can see the expectations are nowhere near the level that we're seeing with Flanders. The Saints are quickly learning why Dimma wanted to play Flanders on the half back line.

 

[Jirik13]

Flanders has been exactly as advertised hasn’t he? It seems like Saints fans/Melbourne media were just expecting something they were never getting because they only ever watched him through stats on a page. Some Saints fans are even still suggesting to put him at half back…

I did not watch the game against Melbourne but Flanders was bloody good at the end of 2024. That's what Saints were hoping for, I guess. I have one Saints supporter in family. They were going nuts after pre-season, top 4, haha.

It's still early, I suspect they will improve.

 

[Jirik13]

The Saints are quickly learning why Dimma wanted to play Flanders on the half back line.

Only initially Dimma played Flanders at HB. He quickly learned that he causes no damage there and slows down the ball movement. Hence he moved him to forward/midfield but mostly just forward in 2025. It looks like for sure we don't miss him.

Give him a season to adjust, then assess.

 

[thurls64]

I do feel bad for Fiorini at Essendon and what he has walked into there, would be hard to cop having endured our worst years and having to leave on the eve of our rise

 

[eppo67]

I do feel bad for Fiorini at Essendon and what he has walked into there, would be hard to cop having endured our worst years and having to leave on the eve of our rise

True but he left for money and a guaranteed game. Playing with PBC or Broadbeach would be more fun than Essendon. He's never playing AFL Finals ever again

 

[thurls64]

True but he left for money and a guaranteed game. Playing with PBC or Broadbeach would be more fun than Essendon. He's never playing AFL Finals ever again

Fair play, maybe I went a bit early now that I have looked at what they reportedly offered him, thats a lot of coin for him Brayden Fiorini signed a 4-year deal with the Essendon Bombers, reportedly valued at roughly $600,000 per season