Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Jed Walter has become a major contract priority for Gold Coast Suns as the club moves to protect its forward line amid fresh uncertainty over Ben King’s future.
The Suns have reportedly lifted their offer to Walter to around $5 million across five years, with Victorian clubs circling the former top-three draft pick and rival bids expected to pass $1 million per season.
For more AFL coverage, read Max Gawn Leads Melbourne Past Collingwood In Emotional King’s Birthday Win.
Suns Move To Keep Walter
Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph said Gold Coast had moved quickly in the past 48 hours as interest in Walter grew.
“The Gold Coast Suns have officially shown Jed Walter the money. They have offered him a deal around $5 million across five years, in the last 48 hours,” Ralph said.
“That is in direct response to the fact that there is uncertainty around Ben King, and the massive interest in Walter himself from Victorian clubs.
“He had a deal of around two years, $750,000 (a year) on the table — they have recently upped that one.
“Those (other) clubs like Collingwood are prepared to offer him as much as $1.1 million, the other clubs were Essendon, who just met him, Carlton and Adelaide.”
King Delay Raises Pressure
King had been widely expected to stay under coach Damien Hardwick, but Ralph said the delay in signing has made Gold Coast nervous.
“Ben King had told the club, his management and family: ‘I am prepared to stay’ on a two-year deal around $2.6 million — he just wasn’t prepared to sign the paperwork,” Ralph said.
“That deal has lingered, and now that we are through the bye, Gold Coast is officially worried.
“That means that the fifth two-year deal that he would’ve signed is in jeopardy right now.
“The Suns must sign at least one of Walter or Ben King, or they’re back to the bad old days where they lost their co-captains in Steven May and Tom Lynch at the end of 2018 — that ripped the heart of his football club out.”
Walter has played 37 AFL games since 2024 and kicked 43 goals. Official AFL updates are available through the AFL website.
