Because losing Tom de Koning may not be the worst thing for Carlton Blues

On the contrary, the blues did not have the opportunity to show their future over a pre-stagional-stagnation game against St Kilda-dope that Jagga Smith has undergone a knee injury that excluded him for the rest of the season in that game. Carlton gave up their first selection in 2025 to go up to choose three in the National draft of 2024.

Four losses to start the season made them the type of destination that the Department of Foreign Affairs could classify under the item “to reconsider the need to travel”.

But the fans of the blues should not panic to the perspective of De Koning to do what most would consider an understandable decision if he had chosen to join the saints.

Although there is no doubt that the blues want to keep De Koning, they are right – regardless of their current problems – to stick to what they consider a fair price for its services, rather than trying to enter a “long weapon” race with saints.

We do not neglect the considerable risk that the saints would take on in pursuing a Ruck-Forward for that type of money.

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De Koning is an excellent player who can play forward and in Ruck, and deserves an increase in salary, but the money offered by the saints is against the trend since many clubs are hesitant to defeat too many money for a Ruckman in this era.

The reluctant clubs know that apart from Max Gawn of Melbourne, the names of Premiership Ruckmen in the last 15 years have been Stalwarts rather than Hall of Famers. Darcy Fort, Darcy Cameron, Rhys Stanley, Gawn, Toby Nankervis, Scott Lycett, Tom Boyd and Ben McEvoy were the number one mappalts in the recent Premiership teams.

If De Koning leaves, Carlton is likely to join those clubs that have chosen to save cents in their Ruck division so that they have more money to spend in other parts of the land.

Although he was no longer a manager of the list, the Carlton CEO arriving Graham Wright was in the Magpie when they exchanged Grundy Brodie with Melbourne to free space for the salary cap.

Wright saw Cameron assume the role of much less money, win a flag and then develop at such a rhythm that has been classified in the best and fairer club prize, and is now one of the most in shape of the game.

What thinks of the profile of the Carlton list is not clear, but you can be sure that it is an area given the most intense consideration right now.

The saints are in a different point. Reconstructing under Lyon, they drafted and targeted emerging talents.

Their well performed and contract Rowan Marshall Rowan Marshall turns 30 at the end of the year, so there is a little logic for them to get a quality Ruckman before climbing. Marshall worked well in tandem with Paddy Ryder when he was in the saints, so he can work in unison with another Ruckman.

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St Kilda obviously considers the useful risk, confident in its list strategy and Nous football is not frightened by what happened in other clubs.

Likewise, Carlton should not be frightened.

They will keep De Koning and continue with what they have achieved, or in one stroke they will get a choice of the first round, a clear room in their salary cap and will have the opportunity to remodel a list that appears stale at this moment.

If De Koning decides to leave, it could be the shock that Carlton needs to realize that he is not good as they thought they were and forcing them to enter a new era.

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