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.

 

[Tasmanian saint]

not worth the money. A 200cm+ ruck that doesn't mark? Under 2 marks a game the last 5 weeks. Hopeless. He's mobile but offers nothing aerially around the ground.

This would be up there with one of the most ridiculous posts I’ve seen on big footy

 

[danster168]

This would be up there with one of the most ridiculous posts I’ve seen on big footy

As I said, he's a ruck that doesn't mark. His stats speak for themselves. How can you possibly defend that?

 

[Tasmanian saint]

As I said, he's a ruck that doesn't mark. His stats speak for themselves. How can you possibly defend that?

This year he is averaging almost 20 disposals and five clearances a game to go with 28 hit outs but apparently he does nothing around the ground

 

[danster168]

This year he is averaging almost 20 disposals and five clearances a game to go with 28 hit outs but apparently he does nothing around the ground

Did you purposely not mention the fact that he never marks?

 

[Tasmanian saint]

His on course to being an absolute star of the competition

 

[Saints43]

Glad you enjoyed it.

Not yet.
I'm not sure what stage of grief your supporters are at in here but the stage just beyond acceptance, whatever that is...
The one we saw with Hamill. The one with the angry crying.

 

[CCurnow3picks]

Not yet.
I'm not sure what stage of grief your supporters are at in here but the stage just beyond acceptance, whatever that is...
The one we saw with Hamill. The one with the angry crying.

You should put your energy into winning your first premiership since 1966 - rather than lathering up at spending $1.7m on one player.

So many before TDK have spurned stkilda’s mega-deals, it’ll be hilarious if TDK does also .

 

[Bostonian]

Did you purposely not mention the fact that he never marks?

Cripps AVG 2.8 marks a game.

That's obviously the stat everyone should rate him on.

Marks are overrated without any context.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Did you purposely not mention the fact that he never marks?

Contested Marks for Ruckmen
Max Gawn - 15
Darcy Cameron - 12
Tom De Konig - 9
Tim English - 7
Luke Jackson - 7
Jarrad Witts - 4
Tristan Xerri - 3
Oscar McIrneny - 3
Rohan Marshall -2
Rhys Stanley - 2


Intercept Marks
Darcy Cameron - 44
Max Gawn - 30
TDK - 27
Tim English 23
Xerri - 18
Luke Jackson - 16

 

[danster168]

Cripps AVG 2.8 marks a game.

That's obviously the stat everyone should rate him on.

Marks are overrated without any context.

wait, what? Cripps isn't a ruckman.Hes a midfielder. Averaging 2-3 marks a game for a ruckman is very poor. It means he isn't helping out in defence or drifting forward. Not saying he isn't offering a target but he's just not marking it.

 

[danster168]

Contested Marks for Ruckmen
Max Gawn - 15
Darcy Cameron - 12
Tom De Konig - 9
Tim English - 7
Luke Jackson - 7
Jarrad Witts - 4
Tristan Xerri - 3
Oscar McIrneny - 3
Rohan Marshall -2
Rhys Stanley - 2


Intercept Marks
Darcy Cameron - 44
Max Gawn - 30
TDK - 27
Tim English 23
Xerri - 18
Luke Jackson - 16

that's not even this year! this year he's had 9 total marks in 5 weeks!!!

 

[projectv]

wait, what? Cripps isn't a ruckman.Hes a midfielder. Averaging 2-3 marks a game for a ruckman is very poor. It means he isn't helping out in defence or drifting forward. Not saying he isn't offering a target but he's just not marking it.

Rowan Marshall is averaging 3 marks a game this season. Is he a 'very poor' ruckman too?

What a weird stat to get hung up on.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

that's not even this year! this year he's had 9 total marks in 5 weeks!!!

2025 AFL League Total Contested Marks Leaders

2025 AFL League Total Contested Marks Leaders.

www.footywire.com

 

[Jeremias]

Imagine thinking the current season was only 5 weeks old.

I know Melbourne started poorly, but c’mon. Those weeks did happen.

 

[L_W_P]

ummm yes? have u not been watching any footy this year? Marshall is having a horrible year this year.

yeah, fancy getting hung up on marking for a 200cm ruckman, how weird.

Marks per game in 2025, rucks only.

English - 5.4
Gawn - 5.3
Cameron - 5.1
Flynn - 4.3
Marshall - 3.8
TDK - 2.9
ROB - 2.6
Nankervis - 2.3
Grundy - 2.0
McInerney - 2.0
Xerri - 1.9
Meek - 1.8
Briggs - 1.7
Witts - 1.3

TDK seems like one of the better ruck options in the comp based on your metric?

 

[danster168]

2025 AFL League Total Contested Marks Leaders

2025 AFL League Total Contested Marks Leaders.

www.footywire.com

I'm not saying he can't mark, he just doesn't. like marks in general. I'm not saying yes not a good player but if he's going to be getting godfather offers then he needs to be takings 5-7 marks a game, not the 2-3 that he's currently taking.

 

[danster168]

Marks per game in 2025, rucks only.

English - 5.4
Gawn - 5.3
Cameron - 5.1
Flynn - 4.3
Marshall - 3.8
TDK - 2.9
ROB - 2.6
Nankervis - 2.3
Grundy - 2.0
McInerney - 2.0
Xerri - 1.9
Meek - 1.8
Briggs - 1.7
Witts - 1.3

TDK seems like one of the better ruck options in the comp based on your metric?

I think the stats support what I'm saying. There's a reason why the top 3 are the leading AA candidates and Xerri and Marshall have been criticised for their drop in form from last year.

don't get me wrong, he's a good player but he needs to improve this area of his game. he started the season like a house on fire

 

[CatToTheFuture]

As I said, he's a ruck that doesn't mark. His stats speak for themselves. How can you possibly defend that?

I'll defend it by looking at the vision of him where we absolutely could not defend against his ruckwork a few weeks ago

 

[Bostonian]

wait, what? Cripps isn't a ruckman.Hes a midfielder. Averaging 2-3 marks a game for a ruckman is very poor. It means he isn't helping out in defence or drifting forward. Not saying he isn't offering a target but he's just not marking it.

On ballers should be getting more marks than ruckmen.

Clearances are a far more important stat for a ruck than marks.

 

[botts]

Yeah but………………St Kilda.

Glass houses

 

[botts]

You should put your energy into winning your first premiership since 1966 - rather than lathering up at spending $1.7m on one player.

So many before TDK have spurned stkilda’s mega-deals, it’ll be hilarious if TDK does also .

Geez how’s this genius

 

[CCurnow3picks]

Geez how’s this genius

 

[Sector 7G]

As I said, he's a ruck that doesn't mark. His stats speak for themselves. How can you possibly defend that?

Ranked 8th in the league for marks as a ruck if you take out SDK who isn't a full time ruck, and players with 2 or less games. Moves further up the rankings when looking at Contested marks per game.

Saying he doesn't mark is disingenuous. As is using a 5 game stretch rather than season averages.

Has been every unlucky in recent week taking marks that have been disallowed due to needless frees.

 

[nickyds35]

Interesting article in The Age discussing how Carlton plans to keep TDK by demonstrating the benefit of staying at Carton through the advantages he will get post-football.

Almost sounds like they are back to their salary cap cheating days.

 

[botts]

Interesting article in The Age discussing how Carlton plans to keep TDK by demonstrating the benefit of staying at Carton through the advantages he will get post-football.

Almost sounds like they are back to their salary cap cheating days.

He would have just as many if not more opportunities with the saints. We have just as many wealthy people involved in the club. Maybe he can be a jayco caravan ambassador