The Gold Coast Suns have had few moments to celebrate in their nine, mainly vexed years in the AFL competition.

Gary Ablett's signing was a source of hope. NRL code-hopper Karmichael Hunt slotted a goal after the siren against the hapless Tigers in 2012, in what were more innocent times for Hunt and the Suns, whose best victory might been against Collingwood two years later, when they were down three players, lost Ablett and still prevailed.

They've never played finals and haven't been within cooee since 2014. The moments that have defined the club have been negative: Harley Bennell and Hunt finding trouble – the latter seriously embarrassing the AFL – Jaegar O'Meara, Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch, Steven May and Ablett leaving to play for strong Victorian clubs, the sacking of two coaches.

Given the litany of issues that they've confronted, the signing of Ben King might rank as one the most positive developments – a signature moment, so to speak – in their hitherto difficult history.