Sam De Koning – Rising Star Rd 11
Geelong Cats’ Sam De Koning is the Round 11 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. Photo: Michael Wilson, AFL Photos
Geelong Cats’ Sam De Koning has been named the Round 11 NAB Rising Star nominee.
The 21-year old has impressed as a key-position defender, playing 10 games this season and ranking eighth in the competition for total contested marks.
The 202cm defender had a career-high 19 disposals at 89% efficiency in his team’s 42 win over the Adelaide Crows on Saturday.
Senior Coach Chris Scott said he was trying to “keep a lid” on his potential to become one of the great key-position defenders over the next decade.
“(De Koning) played a game and our supporters here at Geelong were going ‘we love this guy right now but we’re going to love him a lot for the next 10 years’,” Scott said.
“A couple of weeks ago, I thought he had a great contest (against Max King). I likened it to Glen Jakovich and Wayne Carey – that might be a little bit of exaggeration and they’re two of the greats – but I think Sam has the potential to be one of those guys that people go to the footy to see.”
De Koning was drafted from the Dandenong Stingrays with pick 19 in the 2019 NAB AFL National Draft, making his debut in 2021.
Mark of the Year – Round 11 nominees
The Round 11 Four’N Twenty Mark of the Year nominations are as follows:
- Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)
- Charlie Spargo (Melbourne)
- Sam Weideman (Melbourne)
Goal of the Year – Round 11 nominees
The Round 11 rebel Goal of the Year nominations are as follows:
- Jeremy Cameron (Geelong Cats)
- Joel Jeffrey (Gold Coast SUNS)
- Seb Ross (St Kilda)
