The last three meetings between St Kilda and Gold Coast have been decided by a kick.

The Suns have come so close - going down by 2, 1 and 4 points respectively. Can the Suns turn the tables and come out winners in tonight's clash?

The game has a lot on the line for both clubs. A win for the Saints keeps them in touch with the top four, while the four points keep the Suns' finals dreams alive.

With two changes to each club, it will also be the first time we see the King brothers play against each other.

It will be the first time, at any level, they have ever gone head-to-head on a football field.

Gold Coast's Ben King is a safer set-shot out of the two - his run-up and ball drop is a touch cleaner and knows his routine well.

Ben looks comfortable at the Suns and has had support from other young guns in Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, who played with both brothers at Haileybury.

St Kilda's Max King is one of the favourites to win the Rising Star Award at the end of the year. Having played all nine games so far this season, Max has booted 14 goals to become one of the league's most dangerous key forwards.

This season, Ben has booted 13 goals through nine games to emerge as a dominant key forward for the Suns.

If we compare Max and Ben King's statistics so far this year so far we can see the impact they are having at their respective clubs.

MAX VS. BEN 2020 STATS (SOURCE CHAMPION DATA)

Max King Ben King
Inside 50m target 52% 72%
Player score 19.2% 16.7%
Team retention  57.7% 51.4%
Team score 36.5% 27.8%

 

According to champion fullback Dale Morris, defenders have to play in front of or at least level with the King twins.

“You cannot let them have a run and jump at the footy,” Morris told The Herald Sun.

“With their reach, if they can run and jump and fully extend their arms there are not many defenders that will be able to stop them.

“It’s all about body positioning. If there isn’t pressure on the kick you have to put somebody contact on them to not let them leave the ground.”

Both boys are contracted at their clubs until 2022.

Matthew Lloyd coached both brothers at Haileybury and praised their amazing talent.

“When they played together they had an amazing ability to never get in each other’s way,” Lloyd said.

Come 8:10pm tonight, the brothers will be enemies and would love to one-up each other and get the first goal.

For mum, Marni King, she will have to put on a half St Kilda, half Gold Coast jumper and support both boys regardless who comes away with the win.

“Every game I have so much trepidation and excitement and everything rolled into one,” Marni told AFL media.

“I’m hoping for two bags. I guess the hardest part is someone’s going to come away disappointed.

“But that builds resilience, doesn’t it?”