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How the TDK situation has been handled
Andrew Slevison • August 22nd, 2025 1:00 pm
If you’re reading between the lines you could be forgiven for thinking that Tom De Koning is set to leave Carlton.
Speculation is rife that the 26-year-old ruckman will up and leave the Blues as a free agent to take up a lucrative deal with St Kilda.
After his 100th game on Thursday night, in which the Blues beat Essendon, what De Koning said has prompted many to jump to conclusions.
Immediately after the game he told Fox Footy: “Obviously this week will be huge, it’s obviously a big decision.”
In the rooms a bit later, De Koning stood in front of teammates and family for his 100th game presentation
“Can’t thank the boys enough for getting the win tonight, it’s huge and one I’m definitely going to remember,” he said.
“Thanks for all the good times over the past eight years or so. Obviously a disappointing year, but keep going and do good things.
“So all the best.”
That suggests to Kane Cornes and David King that De Koning is off to the Saints.
They wondered how the entire situation has been handled by player and club through the course of the constant trade chatter.
“Pretty good, you can’t fault it, really,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball when asked how it’s been handled.
“I think they both were very mature. They would have loved a higher level of performance from him in the back half of the year.
“I thought right until this game they spoke about it maturely and ‘Vossy’ sent him off on the right note with respecting game 100.
“I think it’s going to be a win-win for them.”
King concurred, although he does believe - if De Koning has decided on his future - that people should be informed.
“I think it was done really well,” King added.
“But do you think it would have been easier to tell the fans two or three weeks ago and then just have the natural finish anyway? Or do you think this is the perfect way to do it?”
Cornes: “I think this is the perfect way to do it with where we’re at right now.”
King: “I think once you’ve made your decision it’s a good thing to tell the fans.”
Cornes: “Do you think the club knows though? Do you think he’s even told the club yet?”
King: “He virtually did in the speech after the game. The players would have known.
“Once you tell one you tell them all. Let’s be honest. A footy club is a pretty tight bunch generally within the playing unit.
“I’m a believer that as soon as you know let’s just inform and get on with it.”
De Koning has been with the Blues since the was drafted in 2017.
It feels like a decisions on his playing future is imminent with the Saints offering $1.7 million per year over eight years.
