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Sport Nation
The life-changing $4-5m decision in front of Tom De Koning
Andrew Slevison • May 9th, 2025 1:38 pm
Tom De Koning has a life-changing $4 to $5 million decision in front of him.
The Carlton ruckman, who enters free agency this year, is the subject of a mammoth offer from St Kilda believed to be in the range of $1.7 million per season.
De Koning commented on his future on SEN earlier this week, saying “there’s plenty of things to weigh up” but has not placed a timeline on a decision.
Ahead of the Blues’ meeting with the Saints at the MCG on Friday night, David Schwarz pondered the situation the 25-year-old finds himself in when it comes to deciding whether he stays for the loyalty or goes for the cash.
“We’ve got a player who is going to make a $4 million decision one way or the other,” Schwarz said on SEN’s The Captain’s Run.
“I’m talking either he takes $4 million or he leaves it on the table. If he stays at Carlton he’s going to sign for $1m-$1.1m. If he goes to St Kilda it’s going to be around that $1.7m mark over a six-year period.
“That’s $600-$700,000 a year over four or five years. It’s big numbers. Could you walk away from that?”
SEN’s Sam Edmund believes De Koning’s big call could quite possibly be for a figure in excess of the mooted $4 million difference.
“I think the $4 million might be conservative as well. I think it goes north of that,” said Edmund.
“Put it this way - I don’t think anyone could begrudge him if he did (leave). But what a position to be in, because by and large he wouldn’t want to leave. He’s got no level of animosity towards the Blues, he gets on with everyone in the change room.
“But when you dangle a $4 or $5 million difference in front of you, that’s something that’s almost impossible to knock back.”
Schwarz referenced the huge decision Geelong great Gary Ablett Jnr made when he up and left for the lucrative Gold Coast offer back in 2010.
“Gary Ablett Jnr has the exact same thing, he left the club that his dad made famous, a club that he loved,” he said further.
“If Gary Ablett can walk out…”
Before Edmund added: “It’s life-changing.
“Gary Ablett had won premierships at Geelong. It’s offset by the fact that he was a famous father-son as well.
“It’s a big, big life decision for Tom De Koning.”
De Koning is in career-best form in 2025, averaging 28.8 hit outs, 19.5 disposals, 12.6 contested possessions, 5.5 clearances and 4.2 inside 50s.
He will again fill the number one ruck mantle against St Kilda in the second fixture of Round 9 at the ‘G on Friday night.
