Recommitted Tom De Koning [Signed until 2025]

[Skull Face]

He shows the promise but can he deliver? If he cant this year he can go if he wants, Pittonet is solid and cheap and Mirkov has a greater potential to become a goal assist ruckman with his tap work if we can round the rest of his game out to be passable.

Fingers crossed though he signs up long term and then takes the next step

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

I’d imagine it’s just a simple matter of Carlton offering him what he is worth and Tom rightfully thinking that he could be worth much more then that amount by the end of the season.

 

[kreuze_missile]

I’d imagine it’s just a simple matter of Carlton offering him what he is worth and Tom rightfully thinking that he could be worth much more then that amount by the end of the season.

Makes perfect sense. De Koning is well within his rights to back his 2023 form before signing a new deal. Carlton's also well within theirs to offer a contract that is reflective of what he's shown at AFL level to date.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Two games stick out to me from 2022 that showed his full potential




Unfortunately I agree with posts above In that Pittonet and those crash and bash type rucks seem to work better with the midfield on our list. The blocks and space they create seem to work in favour of Cripps and Kennedy etc and allow them at worst a 50 50 chance to win it on the ground as neither rucks have hit it cleanly to advantage.

TDK is more an all or nothing ruck either tapping it straight into our mids hands or gets beaten comfortably which doesn't give the bulls a chance to compete for the 50 50 contests.

If he can learn to halve opposition rucks' influence on games while still delivering some of his beautiful taps from leaping above I can see him being a star player. Not sure if he has the strength and mongrel in him to do that at this stage so 2023 will be a big test for him

 

[Coona Blues]

Surely both Tom and the club will be happy to delay talks until we see how the season pans out. TDK had a mini breakout year with added opportunity and responsibility.

Our supporters and the opposition types, especially the pussies need to assess how the season goes. Tom came off a very restricted pre season, he did not have “adequate” grounding to assume the number one ruck mantle. After Pitto went down he grew considerably, however, is still a way off realising his potential. It is impossible to predict how our ruck division lines up ahead of the season. Pittonet is a very under rated player and probably holds the number one mantle when fit. TDK has the potential to be a star of the game, but is yet to elevate to that vicinity. Come contract time, his price could be worth anywhere between $350k and $800k. There is too much uncertainty in the equation at the moment.

Clearly unless the property moguls intervene heavily, the Cats will struggle to find the mooted salary cap to satisfy our boy. I would be amazed if we are not in the box seat to retain him long term. The only way I see him walking is if he adobos a mercenary outlook. He does not seem that type for mine.

 

[The Nostradamus]

I’d imagine it’s just a simple matter of Carlton offering him what he is worth and Tom rightfully thinking that he could be worth much more then that amount by the end of the season.

he's the type of player that a club would offer significant overs for and its up to him to be willing to accept less

 

[master bate]

The sub rule will mean more teams start with 2 rucks this year. Then sub one off at 3/4 time if they don’t get injuries.

The questions for Carlton will be:

1. Can Pitto and TDK play forward with the 2 gun talls? (Should be made easier with Curnow fitter and more flexible)

2. Can their salary cap justify the expense on a highly paid starting ruck to go along with a solid starter and 2 gun key forwards surely on 7 figures or close to.

3. Does the Silvagni pinch hit then Cripps ruck around the ground actually help Cripps break tags and help Carlton with midfield overload

Difficult questions to answer. And with Carlton spending very big on recruits in recent years you’d have to think the cap pinch could kick in here.

 

[Hamingja]

I think De Koning still has the potential to make it, but turning 24 this year the "he's still developing" argument won't stack up for much longer. I'm aware rucks take the longest of all positions to develop.. but facts are he is yet to play a single good game of footaball at AFL level. Not one.

The truth is Carlton was a much better football side when De Koning doesn't play. Statiscially he was the worst #1 ruckman in the competiton last year in clerance differential, and this was with a great midfield at his feet. Pittonet isn't exactly a star but the clearance differential with him rucking vs De Koning was staggering. Injuries were the only reason De Koning played in 2022, and if Pittonet was fit he would have had yet another year of reserves footy.

Casual fans will love his highlights package, in particular his abiltiy to take the odd contested grab, but he does not impact games of footall. He does little around the ground. Doesn't kick goals. Is not dangeours as a resting fwd. And gets destroyed in clearance.

Unless De Koning wants to accept a very modest contract I'd let some other side buy into the hype and we'll take the picks/players that come back our way.

It's a big year for him. If he has a break out year then Carlton will have him as an untouchable and salary dump one of the players that they have on too much coin for their ability, McGovern, Williams, Martin etc, to keep him. If he has another year of the same then he is basically just Rhys Stanley when we picked him up from the Saints.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

he's the type of player that a club would offer significant overs for and its up to him to be willing to accept less

Yep, it will come down to the difference though. It will be interesting to see in 12 months if teams will still be offering a stupid amount over what he is worth on potential.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Right now no one quite knows what TDK is, is he a #1 ruck or fwd who pinch hits in the ruck.. The club and Tom need to work this out before any offer is put on the table. If he establishes himself as our #1 ruck and the player, we so desperately need then give him the big bucks, but if by seasons end we are still asking the same questions or its become clear that he wont ever be a #1 ruck we are better off letting him go and hope we get a decent pick in return.

 

[james Dean]

Given we’ve signed up Walsh, Cripps, Weitering, Curnow and McKay long term if TDK is the one who needs to be squeezed out I wouldn’t lose much sleep over it.

He’s a solid player but I doubt he’ll ever be a gun.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Right now no one quite knows what TDK is, is he a #1 ruck or fwd who pinch hits in the ruck.. The club and Tom need to work this out before any offer is put on the table. If he establishes himself as our #1 ruck and the player, we so desperately need then give him the big bucks, but if by seasons end we are still asking the same questions or its become clear that he wont ever be a #1 ruck we are better off letting him go and hope we get a decent pick in return.

It's a big year for him. A break out year and he's clearly worth a first rounder and a very good contract. Another year where he's in and out of the team and he's probably not even worth a 2nd rounder and will be looking at a lowish 2 year contract.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Given we’ve signed up Walsh, Cripps, Weitering, Curnow and McKay long term if TDK is the one who needs to be squeezed out I wouldn’t lose much sleep over it.

He’s a solid player but I doubt he’ll ever be a gun.

If we can get (somehow) a top 10 pick for him, I'm cashing in.

 

[Rich01]

If we can get (somehow) a top 10 pick for him, I'm cashing in.

End of second rounder at best im afraid.
But yeah, not showing enough for all the hype Carlton fans gave him early.

 

[LordLucifer]

He'll go and the price will be two first rounders and a player !!

Two years ago Geelong handed over a record three first-round picks to the GWS Giants to secure Jeremy Cameron.

The deal saw the Cats land Cameron as well as two second-round selections in exchange for Picks 13, 15, 20 and a future fourth rounder in an unprecedented bounty for the Giants after they matched his free agency offer and forced a trade.

 

[Shadow89]

He'll go and the price will be two first rounders and a player !!

Given we will literally only have 1 first rounder (2024 1st which could be a Top 10 pick if we start to slide) available due to restrictions on draft pick trading...and we also never involve players in separate deals these days...none of this is likely to happen, haha.

Also, TDK and Jez Cameron are worlds apart, so even if it's just taking the piss (which I assume it is) - there's a snowballs chance in hell anyone offers up that sort of deal for TDK - and so I think a few on here need to lower their expectations a bit...given he's probably worth a late first/early second on exposed form as it stands. This could change if he has a stellar year, but currently, the high rating by some is purely based on potential not what has been demonstrated thus far on field.

 

[BLUEALLTHRU]

The sub rule will mean more teams start with 2 rucks this year. Then sub one off at 3/4 time if they don’t get injuries.

The questions for Carlton will be:

1. Can Pitto and TDK play forward with the 2 gun talls? (Should be made easier with Curnow fitter and more flexible)

2. Can their salary cap justify the expense on a highly paid starting ruck to go along with a solid starter and 2 gun key forwards surely on 7 figures or close to.

3. Does the Silvagni pinch hit then Cripps ruck around the ground actually help Cripps break tags and help Carlton with midfield overload

Difficult questions to answer. And with Carlton spending very big on recruits in recent years you’d have to think the cap pinch could kick in here.

4. TL'DR.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Top 20 pick or it wouldn't be a fair deal imo. Blues have knocked back offers for him of a similar price a few times already over the years and not sure why that would change even if he has similarly mediocre year. Hes our best young ruck prospect in an area of need and has potential to be one of the best in the competition with his athleticism, on those two factors alone Blues wouldn't be wanting to accept anything less.

Only real factor here is the BS Geelong go home factor rubbish which is just a ploy by the Geelong higher ups to mask that they pay every player with property deals behind the scenes.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

If we can get (somehow) a top 10 pick for him, I'm cashing in.

If he has had a year good enough to justify a top 10 pick, then I would want to keep him. At seasons end he will be 24, no longer a kid and we should have a good understanding of who Tom is as a footballer, there may be a club looking for a good mix of fwd/ruck that will over pay for him, but currently with McKay, Curnow, McGovern, JSOS this isnt a need we currently have. If TDK puts together a good year and shows he can be a top 10 ruck in the comp then we should be finding the room in our cap to keep him.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

He'll go and the price will be two first rounders and a player !!

I assume this is satire

 

[LordLucifer]

I assume this is satire

Some of the media commentators are suggesting TDK will soon be paid $800-$1mill per annum which if it was to eventuate, would certainly mean his trade value should be around that region.

I don't think he is worth that much money (just yet) but a 24yo ruck/forward with his best footy in front of him is bound to be handsomely paid at some time.

 

[Hamingja]

Some of the media commentators are suggesting TDK will soon be paid $800-$1mill per annum which if it was to eventuate, would certainly mean his trade value should be around that region.

I know Carlton are bad at managing the cap but that would be something else. He'd be doing well to get $600k.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Some of the media commentators are suggesting TDK will soon be paid $800-$1mill per annum which if it was to eventuate, would certainly mean his trade value should be around that region.

I don't think he is worth that much money (just yet) but a 24yo ruck/forward with his best footy in front of him is bound to be handsomely paid at some time.

1 media commentator, Kane Cornes who deliberately makes statements of hyperbole for clicks and air time.. No one else in the industry thinks Tom is worth half of that.

 

[rye]

Top 20 pick or it wouldn't be a fair deal imo. Blues have knocked back offers for him of a similar price a few times already over the years and not sure why that would change even if he has similarly mediocre year. Hes our best young ruck prospect in an area of need and has potential to be one of the best in the competition with his athleticism, on those two factors alone Blues wouldn't be wanting to accept anything less.

Only real factor here is the BS Geelong go home factor rubbish which is just a ploy by the Geelong higher ups to mask that they pay every player with property deals behind the scenes.

i believe de koning is from melbourne's south east - i dont think there is a 'go home' factor in play

there might be the appeal of playing with his brother i suppose

 

[WilloTree]

Reading the comments, his value is somewhere between Chris Judd and Jack Bowes.