Is 2024 the year Tom De Koning breaks out to become a fully fledged star?
St Kilda great Leigh Montana has urged Michael Voss to “unleash” De Koning as his No. 1 ruckman to help the 25-year old reach his full potential and take the Blues to another level.
De Koning has shown flashes since making his AFL debut — including some impressive moments in last year’s finals series — but is yet to put it all together.
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The 201cm ruckman/key forward was among the most in demand players on the market last year, in large due to his enormous upside, before shunning rival clubs to pen a two-year extension with Carlton until at least the end of 2025.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s First Crack Season Preview show, Montagna thinks De Koning being played as a pure ruckman, with Harry McKay as his backup, would unlock other parts of the Blues’ game in a season the club has flag aspirations.
“I think it’s time for Tom De Koning to take the mantle as the No. 1 ruck. His form and numbers in the second half of the season were huge,” Montagna said.
“If they want to be more explosive and get this counter punch game going, I don’t think they need Marc Pittonet in their side, I think he slows them down.
“It’s time for De Koning to play 75-85 per cent in the ruck and Harry McKay should embrace the second ruck role, like what Joe Daniher did — Daniher kicked 60 goals playing second ruck — so I think it’s possible.
“That will help Charlie Curnow get a bit more freedom and they can mix and match what the rest of their forward line looks like. I think that might help their transition and ball speed.
“De Koning didn’t rally have an impact as a forward — in 19 games he kicked nine goals and took eight marks inside 50. I don’t think they need him as the third tall forward, let him develop as the No. 1 ruck and get Harry in there and see if that can help them speed up their game.”
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Dual premiership Kangaroo David King was less convinced by De Koning, questioning if the former Pick 30 will ever reach the heights some have suggested he can.
“We talk a lot about Tom De Koning … he’s almost 25 years of age. At what point do you say: ‘This is the product’,” King noted.
“We’re waiting and waiting, potential is the dirtiest word in world sport … the jury’s out for me.”
The North Melbourne legend also put the blowtorch on Carlton’s forward line, arguing it’s where Voss’ side is most vulnerable beyond Coleman medallists Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.
King implored the rest of the Blues forwards to step up in 2024.
“It’s a bit of a myth, the Carlton forward 50, it’s not as dominant as it should be. We all talk about Curnow and the season that he had and a lot about Harry,” King added.
“(Jesse) Motlop is becoming a very good player, but the rest – the bits and pieces – they’re not the dominant forward 50 that we give them credit for. There’s a lot of scope for improvement there and I think that’s where the problem actually is – getting bang for buck … the forward 50 needs to lift.
“It is my biggest worry – where will the goals come from if Charlie doesn’t have that year again? Is Harry absolutely going to stand up and kick 60 goals? If it’s not those two, where to?
“That, for me, is still a concern. I think (the) fourth, fifth, sixth player they pick in that forward 50 is not of the same calibre of the other contenders. That’s my worry with them.”
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