At a glance:

  • Max and Ben King will become just the sixth set of twins to play against each other at the highest level this Thursday night.
  • Max King will also be the first player in St Kilda's 147-year history to go up against his twin.
  • There have been 24 sets of twins to play at least one senior game each at V/AFL level.

Max and Ben King will write themselves into an incredibly quirky niche of V/AFL history when they go head-to-head at Metricon Stadium tomorrow night. 

The King brothers will become just the sixth set of twins to play against each other at the highest level, with Max also shaping as the first player in St Kilda’s 147-year history to face off against his twin. 

Since the League’s formation, there have been 24 sets of twins to play at least one senior game each.

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The clash has been almost two years in the making after Max and Ben were taken in the 2018 National Draft with picks No. 4 and No. 6 respectively. 

Both missed the opening round of 2019 when the Saints and Suns played out a one-point thriller, while St Kilda’s new No. 12 was building his form in the VFL when the two sides met again in Round 13 at Townsville’s Riverway Stadium. 

Now, Metricon Stadium is set to be the backdrop for the Kings’ first encounter on opposite sides. 

Max King sits second in St Kilda's goalkicking tally, while Ben leads the Suns. Photo: Corey Scicluna.

Intriguingly, three of the sets of twins who have played against each other have notable St Kilda connections. 

Shane and Darryl Wakelin were household names at St Kilda before moving to Collingwood and Port Adelaide respectively in 2000, Nathan Brown switched to the Saints after his brother Mitch had retired, while Nathan and Ryan Lonie are Jack Lonie’s cousins. 

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James and Chris Gowans also share connections to the red, white and black, however the latter did not end up playing a senior game after being drafted as a rookie in 1999. 

St Kilda and Gold Coast will meet tomorrow night at Metricon Stadium at 8:10pm.  

Twins who have played against each other at V/AFL level 

7 – Shane Wakelin (COLL) and Darryl Wakelin (PA) 
5 – Adam Selwood (WCE) and Troy Selwood (BL) 
4 – Nathan Brown (COLL) and Mitch Brown (WCE) 
3 – Nathan Lonie (HAW, PA) and Ryan Lonie (COLL) 
2 – Kade Kolodjashnij (GC, MEL) and Jake Kolodjashnij (GEEL) 
1* – Max King (STK) and Ben King (GC) 

*To be played on Thursday 6 August. 

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