Tom De Koning was flying high at the start of 2025. But as Carlton’s season unravelled, so too did the form of their marquee ruck-forward, and with a potential $1.7 million-a-year switch to St Kilda looming, the timing couldn’t be worse.
From being the third-highest rated player in the AFL across the first seven rounds, De Koning has slid dramatically to 158th since Round 8, per Champion Data.
His impact, once central to Carlton’s midfield and intercept play, has dropped off in almost every measurable category.
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“The bottom line is he can’t play forward”
Dual premiership player David King, speaking on First Crack Preview, didn’t hold back. “From Round 8 onwards, he’s lost that competitive nature in tight and tough,” King said. “I don’t know if he can gather that back, (but) I feel like that’s an easy fix; a mindset issue.”
King was particularly scathing of De Koning’s forward role, revealing he’s been targeted 20 times inside 50 for zero goals and ranks 285th out of 293 AFL players to have played 120 minutes or more as a forward this season.
“So, the bottom line is he can’t play forward,” King said. “He’s a ruckman, or (someone who plays) behind the ball. The pay packet says he has to play forward, but the logic says he can only play behind the ball.”
With Carlton’s season teetering and seven rounds remaining, King warned time is running out: “It’s a big seven weeks. You’ve got to get the most out of this guy wherever you play him. I think it’s almost making him redundant, playing him as a deep forward option.”