Carlton has reportedly made a seven-year contract offer to emerging star ruckman Tom De Koning amid heavy interest from St Kilda.
De Koning enters 2025 as what is likely to be a restricted free agent (which will be confirmed by the AFL in the coming weeks), meaning if he opts not to sign with the Blues, the Victorian powerhouse can match a rival bid.
AFL Media's Cal Twomey believes the offer could be in the realm of over $1 million a season, which if the 25-year-old takes it, will see him remain in the navy blue jumper until the end of 2032.
Carlton has done a tremendous job at keeping their current group together, signing stars Adam Cerra (2030), Charlie Curnow (2029), Harry McKay (2030) and Jacob Weitering (2031) on long-term deals.
De Koning went on record late last year, amid his impending contract decision, saying how much he loves being at the Blues.
"Look, that'll be between my manager and the club," De Koning said.
"My main focus is my role for the team and listening to what 'Vossy' (coach Michael Voss) and the coaches have to say for me.
"The rest will take care of itself when it happens.
"I love it here. Growing up playing with a bunch of these boys since I got drafted and we've all kind of stuck together.
"Really loving my footy, playing my footy with them and the more games that we play together, I feel like the more cohesion we get."
Carlton has tabled a seven-year contract offer to free agent Tom De Koning as it fights to keep him at the club.
The deal would take De Koning to the end of 2032 & be one of the richest in the Blues' club history if he resists big rival interest.
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โ Callum Twomey (@CalTwomey) February 17, 2025
The reported offer comes as it was revealed that the Saints were weighing up a monster move for De Koning, believing the Moorabbin club could put forward a $12 million deal for the same length of time.
MORE: The AFL's longest current contracts
If De Koning were to sign with Carlton, he'd join the likes of Sam Taylor (GWS), Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide), Noah Balta (Richmond), Max King (St Kilda) and Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs) committed at their respective clubs until 2032.
Only Fremantle's Hayden Young reins supremacy over the competition, with his recent contract extension taking him 12 months beyond the aforementioned quintet.
North Melbourne's Luke Davies-Uniacke is also expected to join the game's brightest stars with a mammoth deal of his own.
The Kangaroos reportedly put forward a seven-year deal to keep him in the blue and white as rivals prepare to circle.
De Koning became Carlton's No.1 ruck in 2024 in the absence of Marc Pittonet due to injury and form.
The athletic tall upped his overall disposal count (16.2), marks (3.3), tackles (3.4), hit-outs (19.9), clearances (4.9) and score involvements (5.4).
