Free Agency Tom De Koning - Joins St Kilda as an RFA, Carlton get Band 1 compensation (Pick 9)

[Jeremias]

This thread might be going for a while. Please respect board rules and each other.

As a starting point, let's leave any references to 'culture' at the door.

Thread bans and infractions will be handed out as necessary.

Thanks.

 

[THE_GUN]

You can only front load so much of a contract when it is valued at $12m or so over 7 years. Even paying him $2m a year for the first two years means he'll average $1.6m over the remaining 5.

Not really

They may have banked 5% last 2 years as well as front loading all their existing contracts leaving a $8 mil surplus in their cap in 2026 which they then pay in his 1st year if they wish leaving $4mil over 6 years

 

[THE_GUN]

Moving marshal won’t save any salary we front loaded the hell out of his last deal his owed very little over the next two seasons, that’s why we are more than happy to keep him and tdk unless a overs trade deal was offered, the only player apart from nas now that’s on substantial money is max king

Then he would be crazy not to ask for a trade and re negotiate a new deal with another club

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Then he would be crazy not to ask for a trade and re negotiate a new deal with another club

We'd be demanding a lot in return if it's true that we've got him under contract on a low salary for the next two years. Removes any element of a salary dump trade discount

 

[stfan]

.
All eyes on Phillipou having a good year on good potential of getting squeezed out.

His form next season on his contract extension will be moot, as will him getting squeezed out, as Phillipou's Manager is currently negotiating an extension with the Saints at present. Possibly through to 2030.

Windhager is the only St Kilda player of note who is not contracted for 2026 who has to make up his mind now.

 

[Malifice]

Have to wonder if perhaps the TDK offer has been pulled by the Sainters?

800k for Aleer, 2 mil for Nas, 1.8 for TDK...

Just doesn't sound feasible to spend that much $ on 3 players.

Who else are they (and have they) been paying?

 

[Sarcoidevo]

Oh no ... looks like TDK has had issue with his throat hence his average output over the last few months... thankfully it should be resolved by the start of next season

Saints Pres has stated that the salary numbers around TDK is less than what is being purported by the Media .... at a guess it is more likely averaging out at 1.5m over the course of his new contract

The Marshall / TDK ruck combo looking great once the League loses the failed sub rule and extends the bench to 5 or 6 .... very likely for next year

Thanks Blues ... thanks AFL!!

Windhager to sign back with the Saints

If Saints lose to GWS then look for SOS to bid on Harry Dean ... before Blues 1st pick (TDK compo) ..... or very possible another team could

 

[Bostonian]

It will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of being the league's most overpaid player.

He's probably fortunate in that regard though that he's going to a small club with a small fanbase.

 

[Longmembrey]

It will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of being the league's most overpaid player.

He's probably fortunate in that regard though that he's going to a small club with a small fanbase.

He has spent his whole career surrounded by overpaid players. He'll be fine with it

 

[CCurnow3picks]

One thing we know from the past 8 years is TDK isnt a forward.

Marshall better be happy playing CHF. Guessing he’s not.

Weird choice to spend 1.8m x 8 years on a ruck, within a team with so many very big holes.

SOS will need a shot of insulin after this one.

 

[Sarcoidevo]

One thing we know from the past 8 years is TDK isnt a forward.

Marshall better be happy playing CHF. Guessing he’s not.

Weird choice to spend 1.8m x 8 years on a ruck, within a team with so many very big holes.

SOS will need a shot of insulin after this one.

TDK is gunna look awesome in RWB

The TDK / Marshall ruck combo will be glorious

 

[Tasmanian saint]

Then he would be crazy not to ask for a trade and re negotiate a new deal with another club

Then he would be crazy not to ask for a trade and re negotiate a new deal with another club

He can ask but I highly doubt Geelong would be willing to pay what we want which will be there first even at 29 his to good of a player to trade for any less . His contracted the only reason we would push him out is if we want to play Dodson as second ruck to get games into him

 

[Bostonian]

He has spent his whole career surrounded by overpaid players. He'll be fine with it

Except now he's the most overpaid player in the league.

Ironically you tried to make a point but it didn't work. You just highlighted the fact other overpaid players also didn't handle the pressure of being highly paid and performed shit.

 

[Bostonian]

TDK is gunna look awesome in RWB

The TDK / Marshall ruck combo will be glorious

So they can tap to that middling midfield?

 

[Bagger72]

Who else are they (and have they) been paying?

King, Sinclair, Steele, Marshall signed a lucrative five year deal in 2022 he turned down rival offers and in the vicinity of $800k.

Let them - the squeeze for them will come faster than normal.

 

[Rob R]

Given TDK form has gone downhill as a result of pressure about his decision, how bad will he play next year when Saints are struggling and blaming him for taking the money that should have been spent bolstering their weak midfield and forward line

 

[Atomboy]

Given TDK form has gone downhill as a result of pressure about his decision, how bad will he play next year when Saints are struggling and blaming him for taking the money that should have been spent bolstering their weak midfield and forward line

Yes, we will surely lament not taking all those A-grade midfield and forward line Free Agents on offer.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

It will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of being the league's most overpaid player.

He's probably fortunate in that regard though that he's going to a small club with a small fanbase.

In all honesty its actually more or less about the support network he has around him. He is going to be hammered pillar to post regardless but if he has that network around him that can support him he will get through it very easily

Judd was fairly similar in that regard

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Has anyone actually bothered to think that the new ruck rules are going to favor De Koning more the any other top ruck in the league? His run and jump is A grade and if that is brought back in his game will definitely improve

 

[Bostonian]

In all honesty its actually more or less about the support network he has around him. He is going to be hammered pillar to post regardless but if he has that network around him that can support him he will get through it very easily

Judd was fairly similar in that regard

Judd was a top 3 in the league player.

TDK isn't even a top 3 in his position.

 

[Bostonian]

Has anyone actually bothered to think that the new ruck rules are going to favor De Koning more the any other top ruck in the league? His run and jump is A grade and if that is brought back in his game will definitely improve

St Kilda fans keep bringing this up yet the fact is he's not that good of a tap ruckman.

Pittonet is better at this aspect of the game than TDK.

All other teams will have to do is rove to his hitouts.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Judd was a top 3 in the league player.

TDK isn't even a top 3 in his position.

Im talking about just handling the pressure in general though and doing so well before he reached Carlton.

TDK has a strong head on his shoulders I feel. He isnt a JHF like snowflake

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

St Kilda fans keep bringing this up yet the fact is he's not that good of a tap ruckman.

Pittonet is better as this aspect of the game than TDK.

All other teams will have to do is rove to his hitouts.

The entire improvement he willl get is getting a clean hitout without being bodied out of it when he wins it. Its like comparing Apples and Oranges here

If they go the change they want to its going to change rucking entirely

 

[Bostonian]

Im talking about just handling the pressure in general though and doing so well before he reached Carlton.

TDK has a strong head on his shoulders I feel. He isnt a JHF like snowflake

And that's why Judd could handle it.

He was a legit superstar of the game so he always looked worth every cent he was paid.

He's no Judd when it comes to imposing himself and taking over games.

 

[Bostonian]

The entire improvement he willl get is getting a clean hitout without being bodied out of it when he wins it. Its like comparing Apples and Oranges here

If they go the change they want to its going to change rucking entirely

He's not that talented at being able to direct his hitouts consistently.

He might get the "hit out", doesn't mean it will necessarily go to his own players.

 

[Scythe]

The truly stunning thing for me is that he's already 26. Doesn't feel like he's been around anywhere near that long, though I suppose it's taken him a while to hit his straps.