King Steps In For Victoria In AFL State of Origin Showdown
Gold Coast Suns spearhead Ben King has been called up to the Victorian AFL Origin squad, stepping in for Jeremy Cameron ahead of the highly anticipated clash against Western Australia this Saturday night. This significant inclusion comes after King’s stellar 71-goal haul last season, which saw him finish as the runner-up in the Coleman Medal race. He is set to be a primary target inside the forward 50 for the Big V.
King is not the only Suns player making their mark on the representative scene. He is one of five Gold Coast stars representing their home states. Alongside King in the Victorian team are fellow Suns talents Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson, and Sam Collins. Meanwhile, Wil Powell will be donning the colours for Western Australia.
For King, the opportunity to represent Victoria is a significant career milestone. “It’s pretty surreal to get the call-up and represent Victoria,” he shared on Monday. “You never want to come in off the back of someone else withdrawing, but I’m extremely proud and excited to get into camp and have the chance to wear the Big V and play with and against some of the best players on Saturday.”
The decision to withdraw Cameron from the Victorian side stems from his ongoing recovery from a broken arm, an injury sustained during last year’s Grand Final. The 2025 Coleman Medallist emphasised that his absence is a matter of timing rather than overall fitness. While Cameron has completed the majority of his pre-season conditioning, he only cleared the final hurdle – full-contact training – a week prior. Concerned about being underdone, the star forward opted not to risk a setback in the high-intensity representative match.
Cameron explained his reasoning, stating, “While I’ve done the majority of pre-season, I only started full contact training last week. Ideally, with another week, I’d be able to get the needed contact sessions under my belt to play in a match of this intensity. I’m disappointed I won’t be running out in the Big V this year, I know the boys will do Victoria proud, and I hope to get the opportunity to play in the future.” His return to full contact was reportedly delayed by a slow healing process following off-season surgery, which involved the insertion of a metal plate to repair the fracture in his right arm.
Adding to the injury concerns for Victoria, talented midfielder Nick Daicos was seen training with a heavily strapped left calf on Monday at Olympic Park, raising questions about his availability.
A Historic Encounter at Optus Stadium
This year’s State of Origin encounter is set to be a historic one, taking place in front of a sold-out crowd at Perth’s Optus Stadium. It marks the first time the two states have faced off in a State of Origin match since 1992, adding an extra layer of significance to the already intense rivalry.
The opening bounce for this highly anticipated clash is scheduled for 7:40 PM AEDT. Fans can look forward to a high-octane display of AFL talent as Victoria and Western Australia battle it out for state pride.
The build-up to this representative game also signals the imminent start of the 2026 AFL season, which is slated to commence on Thursday, March 5. The State of Origin match will serve as a thrilling prelude to the new domestic season, giving fans a taste of the elite skill and passion that Australian rules football is renowned for. The inclusion of King, a proven goal-scoring threat, ensures that Victoria will have a formidable presence in attack, ready to challenge the Western Australian defence. The game promises to be a compelling spectacle, showcasing some of the country’s best AFL talent in a rare interstate showdown.
