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Sport Nation
“Open and honest”: Voss' approach to keep TDK
Nicholas Quinlan • June 20th, 2025 1:02 pm
Carlton coach Michael Voss has provided some insight into his approach to try and keep Tom De Koning at the club.
De Koning faces a tough decision this season as to whether he should stay with Carlton or make the move to join Ross Lyon and St Kilda.
It has been reported that the Saints have offered the ruckman a seven-year deal valued at $1.7 million per year.
While Carlton’s financial offer is not as much as St Kilda’s, the Blues will be hoping that the free agent will value loyalty above the Saints’ offer.
Voss was asked by Kane Cornes about the star ruckman and his approach in trying to keep De Koning at Ikon Park for the long term.
“The first and foremost is that what you need a player to do?” Voss said on SEN’s Fireball.
“Because of the current environment that we are now in, we sort of accept there’s always going to be an element of one of your players or even more of your players being talked about as being an attractive option for other clubs.
“I think this is where we sort of land, sometimes what you can do is, how do you want to have that sort of conversation?
“Do we want to be open and have continual dialogue or operate behind the scenes and everyone talks about in the shadows?
“We have always taken the position of being open and honest and not feeling like that’s an uncomfortable conversation to have.
“The dialogue I have had with Tom is ongoing. We have had some more personal chats with that.
“But there’s also knowing when to leave him alone and give him space to get on with playing football.
“He carries himself as a player that loves the environment, he’s very close to his teammates, he brings a strong energy for us and it’s his team and that’s how he is approached it.
“He’s really grown within the team and his identity within this team and that’s the way we look at it.”
With Marc Pittonet having only played one game this year, De Koning has featured more in the ruck this season averaging a career-high of 29 hitouts per match.
He has also achieved career-high averages in disposals (19.8) and clearances (5.6) showing why there is so much interest in his signature.
De Koning will be in full flight for Carlton as they take on North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.
