‘All-Australian-level’ Cats weapon that did what no one else could… before spearheading ‘best-ever’ win

“It’s one of the best wins I’ve ever been a part of.”

They were the words of 24-year-old Sam De Koning to foxfooty.com.au post-game on Thursday night, having successfully toppled a potent Adelaide outfit on their own turf to kick off 2025’s Gather Round.

His Geelong side were dealt a huge double blow in defence pre-game, with Tom Stewart (illness) and Jack Henry (hamstring) out of their side from the week before against Melbourne. It meant that Adelaide’s ‘three-headed monster’ loomed as large as ever has this season, after tearing apart every defence it had come across in recent weeks.

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But as Chris Scott’s Cats have done so often, for so long, they adapted on the fly to nullify the imposing challenge at hand. Spearheading that adaptation was De Koning, who held emerging superstar Riley Thilthorpe to just one goal, after kicking no less than three in his first month of football this year.

The Crows’ Darcy Fogarty (four goals) and Taylor Walker (two) starred throughout the first half of the match, however the trio were held to seven goals between them — their lowest tally from their five games so far.

“They’ve got three big forwards, and they still had a good game tonight — it’s pretty hard to stop them… but me, Blitz (Mark Blicavs) and and Sull (Connor O’Sullivan) just worked together all night,” De Koning said in the changerooms after the 19-point win.

“We knew we had the legs and the running power, and we just wanted to use that to our advantage. Get the ball in our hands, work the ball off the line and use each other to attack the game.

“We didn’t let any of us get in the hole of being beaten, so I thought we worked together really well as a back line group. We’ve got to credit the midfielders too, they did an awesome job tonight.”

This year has been an intriguing one so far for the 204cm versatility, who was initially dealt the role of team ruck in rounds one, two and three before filtering back down to defence.

His impact and athleticism through the middle of the ground undoubtedly gave the Cats a new-look spark alongside star recruit Bailey Smith and the evolving Max Holmes. But De Koning’s Thursday night at the Adelaide Oval was a stark reminder to his coach, teammates and fans alike that his defensive craft is more than good enough to stop the game’s most in-form forwards.

“He’s an All-Australian-level key defender, that was his quality (from the start), and he’s just had some issues with his knee in particular … that’s limited him. But off the back of a really good pre-season, we think he’s ready to get at least back to that 2022 form,” coach Chris Scott told journalists after the match.

“I’m happy to say he’s not going to play permanently as a key defender; his flexibility is going to be important to us. If I had to guess, I think he’ll play more back, and you need guys (like that).

“Thilthorpe wouldn’t play on many guys that are taller than him, the days are gone when you can have a gun 190-centimetre key defender, because these guys are just getting so big now. Sam’s always going to have that strength for us.”

A selfless, softly spoken character, De Koning embraces the role of being a team player as well as any coach could ever hope. The full-back role is regularly a thankless one, and to a slightly lesser extent, so is rucking.

Speaking on his hybrid role, the Mornington product notes that he has leant on the shoulder of veteran teammate and premiership Cat Mark Blicavs — who at the peak of his hours was arguably the most valuable player in the competition as someone who could play in defence, the ruck and a genuine midfielder.

“It’s been fun; I love that I can be that versatile player for the team,” De Koning revealed.

“I really take inspiration from ‘Blitz’ and what he’s been able to do with his career. I think he’s missed something like 12 games his whole career, and that’s because he’s so versatile in filling a spot for the team.

“That’s the player that I want to be, and just going into every game being a yes man for the coach and getting the job done.”

Stepping up to the task in the marquee match alongside De Koning was second-year player Connor O’Sullivan, playing just his sixth AFL game.

The 19-year-old has been commendably consistent across all five matches this year, and was again busy with 15 disposals and seven intercepts.

“He’s still a young player who has a lot to learn, but he we love how attacking he is and how much he backs himself in for a young player,” De Koning told foxfooty.com.au.

“We could all gain some of the confidence that he has for sure. We just continue to back him and get the ball in his hands — it’s working well for us.”

Geelong now enjoy an 11-day break before meeting with the top-of-the-table Hawthorn on Easter Monday, with defensive duo Tom Stewart and Jake Kolodjashnij each a chance of returning.