12. TOM DE KONING

THE curtain has been drawn on an unprecedented 2020 season for the Navy Blues.

Trading Ikon Park for 10 different hotel hubs across Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, it’s been a year we won’t soon forget.

With the final siren having rung on the final game, it’s time to look at those who featured in five or more games for Carlton or made their AFL debuts in 2020.

Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s No.12, Tom De Koning.

GAMES

2020: 7
Career: 9

GOALS

2020: 0
Career: 1


KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):

Disposals: 54 (7.7) Marks: 10 (1.4) Contested possessions: 38 (5.4) Tackles: 16 (2.9) Clearances: 14 (2) Hitouts: 87 (12.4)


OVERVIEW

Tom De Koning had his first real taste of AFL football this year, playing seven games as either Carlton’s solo ruckman or partnering Marc Pittonet.

With Matthew Kreuzer out of action, De Koning helped shoulder the ruck load alongside Pittonet for the Blues, emerging as one of the competition’s most promising young ruckmen.

After an unfortunate run with injury kept him waiting for nearly two years, De Koning was able to get some consistency in performance and selection, playing all of his seven games in the back-end of the season.

The 21-year-old proved to be a valuable asset for the Blues, with his ruck craft, work rate and cleanliness around the ground growing by the week.

BEST PERFORMANCE

De Koning had a breakout performance against Sydney, coming up against experienced ruckman Callum Sinclair.

With Pittonet out through injury, it was up to De Koning to own his role as the main ruckman and he did exactly that.

Managing 19 hitouts, De Koning also gathered 12 disposals (10 of those contested), laid three tackles and impressed with his ability to stay involved around the ground.

The game was a memorable one for De Koning and the Blues, with Matthew Cottrell kicking the match winning goal late in the game: Carlton’s surging fightback started with De Koning’s ruck work at the centre bounce.


SEASON HIGHLIGHT

Playing only two games prior to this season, De Koning’s first senior win arrived in his fourth game: and there was no better way to do it.

In Carlton’s first after-the-siren win for 33 years, De Koning’s first taste of AFL victory was sealed off the boot of Jack Newnes.

It was a promising performance for De Koning, who managed a career-high 21 hitouts and four points to saviour.

THEY SAID IT

On his AFL experience, De Koning felt confident that he could compete at the AFL level, despite the possible complication of an ankle injury just prior to the competition restart.

“Looking back on it, I put in all of the work and early in the pre-season, ‘Pitto’ and I were having some really good battles: I felt like I was up for it. I felt like I was ready to go,” De Koning said.

“I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to be solo ruck in a couple of games and I felt like I held my own against some good ruckmen.

“It was a good learning year for me, but also an exciting year to be able to play some games.”