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PLAYERS / TOM DE KONING
Updated 17 May 2026

Tom De Koning

#3/25·Bye Rd 12·⚠ test - Back (Test)
RUC
Price $391kBE 57Owned —Bye Rd 12Avg 118.0
ROOKIEBIBLEVerdict
▼ SELL

De Koning posted 75 away in Darwin as STK went down by 29 — technically above his 53 BE but utterly unremarkable for a ruck averaging 81 who has shed $35k since R5. Cash gen is -$6,683 per round and the ruck split with Marshall at St Kilda has capped his ceiling all season. The R8 "revenge game" bounce to 88 did not hold. Sell him now while there is still meaningful money to recover — the structural problems are not going away and the price will keep sliding.

Signals2/3 · Partial alignment
Form
Improving
Trajectory
-$5k/wk
Consistency
Consistent
Recent formSeason avg 118
118
75▼
88▼
Comparable PicksWhy this comparison · Same primary position (RUC), ±$200k price band

Tom De Koning

RUC

Lachlan Mcandrew

RUC
—
—
Form
R5
73
R6
38
R7
66
R8
88
R9
75
R10
118
R5
83
R6
79
R7
65
R8
92
R9
84
R10
103
Pricing
Price$391k
Price$400k
Breakeven57
Breakeven59

Decision

Should I trade Tom De Koning?

Form, breakeven, and a comparable replacement weighed up.

Intel feed

Recent intel

Breakout Signal· T3

Tom De Koning had a strong R10 performance for St Kilda, described as having "thrown the monkey off his back" and visibly enjoying playing alongside Rowan Marshall. Community sentiment was that TDK is finally fulfilling his potential in a shared ruck role.

u/yevau (comment, score 10), u/edward-1992 (comment, score 4) on r/StKilda
Community Intel· T3

Tom De Koning returned to face Carlton (his former club). Community consensus is he should not be booed given the contract circumstances - STK reportedly offered significantly more money. Sympathetic sentiment toward TDK from Carlton fans.

u/Sabretoothedrom on r/CarltonBlues (post), top comment score 66
Role Change· T3

Marshall's presence at the club limits De Koning's role and upside. Community concern that the two-ruck split reduces De Koning's fantasy scoring ceiling.

u/Ok-Tackle-8350, u/froggy2903 on r/AFLSupercoach (post 1sjv3hs)
Community Intel· T3

Community consensus is bearish on De Koning despite pre-season hype around new ruck rules favouring him. Multiple users recommend trading out, citing underperformance relative to expectations.

u/Ok-Tackle-8350 on r/AFLSupercoach (post 1sjv3hs), multiple comments
Community Intel· T3

Tom De Koning mentioned alongside Zach Flanders as questionable performers after STK vs Port Adelaide post-match. Community not fully satisfied with his output in a narrow win.

u/AmenCaveman on r/StKilda (comment, score 13)
Community Intel· T3

One user upgraded T De Koning to Gawn as part of a ruck restructure, treating him as a stepping stone rather than a keeper.

u/WingsBeersAndGames on r/AFLSupercoach
Community Intel· T3

Tom De Koning (TDK) sharing ruck duties with Marshall at St Kilda limits his individual SC ceiling despite being a good AFL ruck option.

u/explosive_wombat on r/AFLSupercoach
Community Questions

What people are asking about Tom De Koning

Mentioned in
  • Will Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning get booed by Carlton fans when they return to face their former club?
    J. SilvagniDEFTop: Boo JSOS, not TDK (40%)
    67
  • Which players are the best upgrade and downgrade targets heading into Round 7?
    UnknownTop: Anderson and Tsatas are the mid downgrade targets (45%)
    24