IN DIRECT contrast to his playing style, Tom De Koning is staying grounded.
After an up-and-down start to the year for the team, De Koning and his Carlton teammates find themselves preparing for another big fixture this Friday night in Spud’s Game against St Kilda.
One of the in-form ruckmen of the competition so far, De Koning joined Dwayne’s World on SEN to talk about 2025 to date, with the Blues’ No.12 more focused on ensuring the Blues can produce four quarters of football.
“If I can bring energy around the stoppage as well, that can be a big thing - I try to be an energy-giver around the midfield and get the ball moving forward for us. If I can get my craft right and get that connection with the mids, I value that as a good game,” De Koning said.
“You’re not going to win all of them, and even if you feel as though you get the perfect connection, it’s not always going to work out. For me, it’s about working on my craft throughout the week with the main group of mids and putting our best foot forward, hitouts to advantage and clearance and getting the ball inside 50.”
It’s no surprise that there’s been plenty of talk around De Koning in 2025, but for the ruckman, all his energy - of which there is plenty - currently lies in the team producing four quarters of football.
A laidback character off the field, De Koning said he was more than happy to let his football do the talking.
“I’ve always been like that. Growing up, I wasn’t a massive footy fan but I just loved getting out there on the weekend and playing with my mates. Not too much has changed, and I think that’s a good way to go about it: you tend not to overthink and overanalyse too much, you go out there and do what you can to win.
“I’m focusing on playing my best footy for the team. We’re trying to bring consistent footy, and we haven’t done that to start the year - that’s where all my energy is going.”
Throughout that, De Koning said he would draw on the relationships he has built with a number of his long-term teammates as the Blues approach a key period of the season heading into the mid-season bye.
The start of his career was a slow burn, but now in his eighth season, it’s evident TDK does amazing things to Carlton’s system.
“I feel like I’ve grown up with this group: players like ‘Walshy’ and ‘Crippa’ have been here since I started. We’ve got that real synergy and I love playing with those boys.
“I’ve been here for eight years and it’s something everyone says, but how quickly an AFL career goes. I feel like I’m getting a bit older now and it feels a bit different, but this group I’m playing with, I love the connection we’ve been able to build. Hopefully we can bring that consistency throughout the end of the season.”
