What is out-of-contract Carlton tall Tom De Koning worth on the open market?
That’s the question that’s been posed after the Blues opted to drop the ruckman to the VFL, despite several clubs reportedly keen on luring him away from Ikon Park this off-season.
After playing the first five games of the season in the seniors, De Koning has since played one VFL game, after being concussed in that match.
With Carlton set for a bye in the state league this weekend, De Koning won’t get an opportunity to press his case for selection if he’s not picked in the AFL side to face the Western Bulldogs,
According to reports, both St Kilda and Sydney are after the 23-year-old, and Gerard Healy asked Channel Seven’s Mitch Cleary whether De Koning’s management had recently met with the Saints after a listener texted into SEN Sportsday suggesting they had.
Healy, Cleary and Kane Cornes then discussed the current situation surrounding the versatile tall.
Healy: “He (the texter) wants to know whether you can confirm that Tom De Koning’s management was seen down at Moorabbin today.”
Cleary: “That is a very good question.
“I was in Casey myself today, Gerard, so I might need to chase that one up.
“(De Koning’s manager) Robbie D’Orazio is a very busy man, he’s got a few clients.
“He's actually got Max King who it appears is unlikely to return despite the Saints having pencilled him in to play this week.
“So, I might need to chase that up, but no doubt the Saints are a strong suitor for Tom De Koning given ‘SOS’ (Stephen Silvagni) drafted him originally to the Blues and is now running the list structure at the Saints.”
Cornes: “What's he worth in terms of a trade pick or a draft exchange, how do you view his value?”
Cleary: “It's a very good question. I reckon his value has diminished from what it was at the start of the year.
“I reckon you would have said at least a first-round pick, maybe throw in a second-round pick (at the start of the year).
“I reckon right now it's a late first, maybe early second-round pick for Tom De Koning.”
De Koning currently has 46 games to his name since being taken with pick No. 30 in the 2017 National Draft.