Latest news with #DeKoning
Sydney Morning Herald
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
St Kilda's desperation to land De Koning is driving up the price of the star they already have
St Kilda's massive offer to lure Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning to Moorabbin will force the Saints to pay through the nose to retain star midfielder Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera as he weighs up whether to accept a lucrative short-term deal at the Saints or head back to South Australia to play with Port Adelaide or Adelaide. The 22-year-old's brilliant season and knowledge of offers the Saints have made to prospective star recruits at other clubs, in particular De Koning has put Wanganeen-Milera in a strong negotiating position. It's expected De Koning will accept the $1.7 million a year St Kilda has offered him to join them in 2026. The Saints have significantly upped their offer to Wanganeen-Milera since the start of the season to $1.4 million per season, according to two competition sources. His eye-catching form has resulted in a move from their original position and has him poised as a near-certainty to win the club best and fairest award. The club's priority has become to retain the classy ball-carrier, who is a key part of the next generation of talented players at the Saints alongside Darcy Wilson, Mattaes Phillipou, Alix Tauru, Mitch Owens, Tobie Travaglia, the injured Max King and uncontracted pair Marcus Windhager and Max Hall. The interested clubs are patiently waiting for him to decide where his future lies, with all parties accepting he will command more than $1 million per season wherever he plays. St Kilda have significant space in their salary cap, and both South Australian clubs have capacity to accommodate a salary of that nature if he decides to move. The greatest challenge if Wanganeen-Milera does decide to depart will be devising a trade that satisfies the Saints, who may be disinclined to accept future draft picks given his ability to fast-track their rebuild if he stays or, if he leaves, catapult a rival up the ladder.
The Age
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
St Kilda's desperation to land De Koning is driving up the price of the star they already have
St Kilda's massive offer to lure Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning to Moorabbin will force the Saints to pay through the nose to retain star midfielder Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera as he weighs up whether to accept a lucrative short-term deal at the Saints or head back to South Australia to play with Port Adelaide or Adelaide. The 22-year-old's brilliant season and knowledge of offers the Saints have made to prospective star recruits at other clubs, in particular De Koning has put Wanganeen-Milera in a strong negotiating position. It's expected De Koning will accept the $1.7 million a year St Kilda has offered him to join them in 2026. The Saints have significantly upped their offer to Wanganeen-Milera since the start of the season to $1.4 million per season, according to two competition sources. His eye-catching form has resulted in a move from their original position and has him poised as a near-certainty to win the club best and fairest award. The club's priority has become to retain the classy ball-carrier, who is a key part of the next generation of talented players at the Saints alongside Darcy Wilson, Mattaes Phillipou, Alix Tauru, Mitch Owens, Tobie Travaglia, the injured Max King and uncontracted pair Marcus Windhager and Max Hall. The interested clubs are patiently waiting for him to decide where his future lies, with all parties accepting he will command more than $1 million per season wherever he plays. St Kilda have significant space in their salary cap, and both South Australian clubs have capacity to accommodate a salary of that nature if he decides to move. The greatest challenge if Wanganeen-Milera does decide to depart will be devising a trade that satisfies the Saints, who may be disinclined to accept future draft picks given his ability to fast-track their rebuild if he stays or, if he leaves, catapult a rival up the ladder.
Eyewitness News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
Junior Boks win World Rugby U20 Championship: 'We're champions of the world.'
South Africa's Junior Springboks are world champions! South Africa ended a 13-year wait for a second World Rugby U20 Championship title after beating New Zealand 23-15 in the final of the 2025 edition in the Italian city of Rovigo on Saturday. It was the first meeting of the two nations in a final since the Junior Springboks' class of 2012. De Koning says the win is one for the history books...
Sky News AU
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Sky News AU
AFL 2025: Carlton coach Michael Voss on Tom De Koning's contract call
Carlton coach Michael Voss says he's balancing his conversations with out-of-contract big man Tom De Koning between personal chats and knowing when to 'leave him alone' as he weighs up a multimillion-dollar offer from St Kilda. Voss has drafted in another ruckman, Marc Pittonet, to help De Koning out in Saturday's clash with North Melbourne, a game the 6-7 Blues have to win to remain in the hunt for finals. Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow is also a confirmed starter to tackle the Roos, having been subbed out of last week's win over West Coast with a calf niggle. But while the focus is on the now, Voss said he couldn't ignore the De Koning situation and while the 25-year-old wasn't being hassled by anyone at the club to make a decision, there had been conversations. The Saints have reportedly offered De Koning a $12m mega contract, a figure the Blues can't match. Voss said he had taken questions from De Koning on the club's future but never at any stage urged him to make a call. 'I reckon two years ago, we were sitting in the same situation – then he walked into my office one day and signed the next day,' Voss said on Friday. 'He'll make that decision whenever that is in due course. But I look at what he's providing us, the investment he has in our team and how much he loves his teammates … this is his team, and he sees himself as that. 'When we have these conversations, that's what we talk about – the team, how he's going to get better and what that looks like in the future. 'We're more than happy to have those he needs from me is the reinforcement of what he brings to the team, how important he is to us as a player and he'll continue to do so. 'The dialogue I have had with Tom is ongoing. We have had some more personal chats with that, but there's also knowing when to leave him alone and give him space to get on with playing football.' Voss said Curnow 'trained pretty much the whole session' on Friday and was expected to take his spot against the Kangaroos, and the Blues had a 'laser focus' on what's needed, with so much at stake. 'We're laser focused in on making sure we play well. We've got a system we want to play, we've been really proud of some aspects of our game that we're getting right,' he said. 'We're laying those foundations down, but we're also really clear on the things we need to be better at – that's where all our energy has been. We haven't shifted our focus, it's the next contest, it's the next team we play and that's North Melbourne. That's what gets our sole attention.' Originally published as Carlton coach Michael Voss reveals how he's handling the contract call for star big man Tom De Koning
7NEWS
20-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Carlton coach Michael Voss shares insight into Tom De Koning negotiations
Carlton's in-demand ruckman Tom de Koning won't be pressured to deciding his future by Blues coach Michael Voss. De Koning is weighing an offer from St Kilda understood to be millions of dollars above the Blues' deal. The 25-year-old's decision has massive ramifications for the list planning at both clubs but Voss said he won't be rushing his ruck. 'He will make that decision whenever that is, in due course,' Voss told reporters on Friday. 'Look at what he's providing us, the investment he has in our team and how much he loves his teammates. 'He has grown up at this football club. This is his team and he sees himself as that. 'When we have these conversations, that's what we talk about - the team, how he's going to get better and what that looks like in the future.' De Koning is in midst of an eye-catching seventh season with the Blues, averaging career-best disposals, hit outs and clearances. And his duel with North Melbourne's Tristan Xerri, rated among the best big men in the business, will be pivotal to Saturday's MCG clash. The Roos enter the fixture with bad memories of their last-start against Carlton: an 82-point capitulation on Good Friday. But coach Alastair Clarkson now rates the defeat to the Blues as a turning point - since the April 18 loss, the Kangaroos have produced arguably their strongest stretch under him. There's been two wins, a draw against reigning premiers Brisbane, and the Roos have been in every game. 'That was the moment in the season where we recognised we just couldn't stop leaking goals,' Clarkson told reporters on Friday. 'It was a big stage for us, a big game for our club and the competition really, Good Friday is a marquee game. 'We had to make some changes.' Clarkson set about bolstering an all-ground defensive approach and the 20-year coach witnessed instant improvement. 'We have shown that we're on the right track,' he said. 'Just making sure we have got really strong synergy with the way we defend the oval. 'If we defend that oval well enough, it will give us opportunities for turnovers higher up the ground and allow us to perhaps be able to score better.' The Roos (three wins, one draw, nine losses) enter Saturday afternoon's MCG fixture knowing the importance of the result for Carlton's finals hopes. The Blues (six wins, seven losses) are within two victories of the top eight but without top talents Sam Walsh (foot) and Harry McKay (knee) for another month. Dual Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow has been named by Carlton despite carrying a calf complaint. 'We expect he'll play,' Voss said before a light match-eve training. 'The indication is as long as he pulls up well today, he's playing - fit and available.'
