AFL Trade Whispers: Key Blues in ‘limbo’ amid TDK waiting game… and the potential ‘sweeteners’ to put to star ruckman

The wait on Tom De Koning’s contract call has left some big-name Blues in limbo.

Plus the sweeteners the Blues could put to the star ruckman to convince him to stay at Ikon Park.

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KEY BLUES ‘IN LIMBO’ AMID TDK WAITING GAME

While the Blues await Tom De Koning’s call on his future, it affects their contract handlings with several other-big name players.

De Koning is weighing up re-signing with Carlton on a deal estimated to be worth $1.1 million a season over seven years, or moving to St Kilda on a $1.7 million contract over the same tenure.

As Herald Sun reporter Glenn McFarlane revealed on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle, it’s left a number of other key Blues in contract limbo while Carlton juggles its salary cap.

That includes Jack Silvagni, who told foxfooty.com.au’s Ben Cotton earlier this month he’s yet to begin contract talks with the Blues but wants to “take the club forward to success,” Brodie Kemp, Sam Docherty and Jesse Motlop.

“The Blues are prepared to wait as long as they can. There’s a tipping point with TDK, no one knows exactly when that is, but you’re looking at the back-end of the year,” McPharlane said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“You look at some of these names waiting, they’re all waiting and going to have to wait: Brodie Kemp, Jack Silvagni, Jesse Motlop, Sam Docherty, Alex Cincotta and Orazio Fantasia.

“They’re in limbo at the moment.”

In good new for other key Blues out of contract this season, McFarlane reported Mitch McGovern and George Hewett were closing in on contract triggers that’ll tie them to the club beyond 2025, while the injured Nic Newman is also expected to get a new deal.

“Mitch McGovern is another one out of contract, but the good news on him is he’s set to hit a trigger later in the year for next year. That’s a bonus for him that will see him play into 202,” McFarlane added.

“George Hewett we know has a trigger, he is probably leading the best and fairest alongside TDK at the moment. He will hit a trigger in the next couple of weeks.

“Nic Newman is just a great story at the moment, he’s working so hard to get back from that serious knee injury. Not sure whether he’ll get there. But I think a deal will get done sooner rather than later, that will be around mid-year.

SO HOW COULD BLUES ‘SWEETEN’ TDK OFFER?

With an approximate $600,000 gap between St Kilda’s offer to Carlton’s for De Koning, how can the Blues sweeten a deal to retain the gun ruckman?

The free agent is in All-Australian form in a hot start to his 2025 season, averaging career highs across the board in disposals (19.9). hit-outs (30.6), inside 50s (4.4) and clearances (5.9) as Michael Voss’ side’s number one ruckman.

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph outlined five potential avenues to help Carlton beef up its offer.

“How do they put a few sweeteners into the contract to say: ‘We love you’. These are ‘we love you sweeteners’ — I’ve got five of those having spoken to list managers,” he said on Midweek Tackle.

“You can offer a clause for the eighth season — when he’d be 34 … say he’s played 45 games in the last three years of that seven-year deal, you get your extra $1.1 million.

“You offer him a TPP uptick, maybe if the salary cap goes up 20 per cent, he gets 10 per cent.

“You get the performance-based contracts, which normally you wouldn’t get for the star earners — $100,000 for All-Australian and $50,00 for top three in the best and fairest.

“Then the risky ones. You trade Marc Pittonet — he’s probably on $500,000 — and you’ve got to bring in a Tom Campbell or Tom Fullarton and start getting cute.

“Or the really challenging one, you sacrifice another player — is it a Newman, (Matt) Carroll or Silvagni? Lewis Young?

“I get the feeling they’ll maybe try tinker with some of those.”

Ralph still doesn’t expect Carlton to budge on its De Koning offer given the potential salary cap implications including Sam Walsh preparing to enter free agency in 2026.

“The real issue for them is if they give him too much money, say $1.3 million, then Sam Walsh is valued at that as a free agent,” Ralph said.

“I get the feeling (their offer) is going to be really similar to what it is right now and he’s just going to have to make a great sacrifice. Not sure if he’ll do it, but god he loves his football club and he’s playing the best football of his career. That’s got to mean something.”