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Carlton are closely monitoring out-of-contract ruckmen from rival clubs, as they patiently wait for Tom De Koning to make a call on whether he accepts the riches on offer at St Kilda.
De Koning’s form has become a point of concern at Ikon Park, coming as the restricted free agent weighs up whether to remain on a $1.1 million dollar a year deal with the Blues, or sign a seven-year, $12 million contract with the Saints.
Should De Koning, 25, leave, the Blues will enjoy major salary-cap relief, and claim a top-10 draft pick as compensation.
Tom De Koning was below his best on Friday night against Collingwood, but he wasn’t alone.Credit: Getty Images
A senior competition source, speaking anonymously to speak freely, said the club was assessing potential replacements to join veteran ruckman Marc Pittonet and youngster Hudson O’Keeffe.
The Blues do not expect De Koning to publicly make a call until the end of the season, although prominent AFL commentator Kane Cornes said on Saturday the time had come for De Koning to do so as his form appeared to be “significantly” impacted by the potential life-changing decision.
Collingwood fans even heckled De Koning on Friday night by chanting the St Kilda theme song when he was at full-forward.
De Koning’s manager, Robbie D’Orazio, was contacted for comment.
St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall, who has been the Saints’ frontline big man but could also play forward, is an option for the Blues should he want out of Moorabbin if De Koning joins, while Adelaide’s Reilly O’Brien is off contract. Hawthorn’s Ned Reeves, contracted until the end of 2026, could also be another option.
De Koning’s value is his ability to almost be a ruck-rover and win clearance, rather than being a specialist tap ruckman (of which there are few in the league), and the Blues would be keen on a similarly athletic type should there be options to work alongside Pittonet.
De Koning has been below-par in losses to North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Collingwood, with industry figures speculating his opponents in those games would be earning half of what he would be, should he join the Saints.
He had just 11 disposals, 12 hitouts and one clearance against the Magpies in a 56-point loss on Friday night, while Pittonet had 17 touches, 33 hitouts and two clearances.
“He [De Koning] looks to have... checked out might be too strong, but he just looks affected by this significantly,” Cornes told SEN.
The former Port Adelaide premiership player said the Blues should consider putting De Koning on ice for the rest of the season.
“What’s the point [of playing] if he is going to be in that mood? He can only do damage to himself and be a less desirable asset if he had a significant injury. That discussion has to happen,” Cornes said.
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“I think it would be extreme to say you are out for the next seven games and not play. We have seen it with Phil Davis, and maybe Lachie Henderson at Carlton when he went to Geelong. It’s extreme, and it’s rare, but it’s a conversation that needs to happen.”
Blues president Rob Priestley said last Monday Voss would coach out of the season, and the club on Saturday remained adamant that’s the case, regardless of what unfolds.
Voss is contracted until the end of 2026, and there is hope he can survive if incoming chief executive Graham Wright prefers to make changes around him in the football department, and to the playing list.
Football director and Blues premiership great Greg Williams will also have a say in the direction the club takes.
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The Blues, with only six wins from 16 games in a season when they were expected to challenge for the top four, are aware they lack skilled kicking through the midfield, while their midfielders are not delivering goals.
Senior players Charlie Curnow and George Hewett spoke post-match on Friday of how the players had let down Voss – the Blues having had a clear focus on winning the contest, overall pressure and tackle efficiency against the Magpies. However, they were beaten in all areas.
In a damning assessment, Hewett said the Blues were “out-efforted” by the Magpies, and lamented a lack of dare.
The Blues went at 38.8 per cent efficiency inside attacking 50, below their season average of 44.8 per cent.
Hewett said the Blues will conduct an “honest review”, with players needing to “speak from the heart”.
However, he insisted the Blues remained united behind Voss.
“Definitely, us boys want to do him proud. We are just not doing it, which has been tough the last couple of weeks,” he said.
Curnow was blunt in his own assessment.
“That’s not up to the AFL standard we have shown,” he told Seven on Friday night.
When asked about his own future, Voss said in the post-match that he would not speculate “beyond this week”.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae said he felt for Voss, his former triple premiership teammate at the Lions.
“For all our excitement there’s a level of, ‘I hope my mate’s OK’,” McRae said.
“As much as we want to beat our arch-rival, that’s done now, and I just go into love and care and support for a guy that I’ve got enormous love and support for.”
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