Carlton star Tom De Koning's dominant start to the season is likely to bring a sense of ambivalence to Princes Park and set within the Blues faithful as the in-form ruckman weighs up his future beyond 2025.
De Koning's pending contract call has been well documented over the opening quarter of this year, with the free agent earning high levels of interest from rival clubs, with St Kilda viewed as his biggest bidder.
The Saints' ample salary cap space has seen the Moorabbin side compete with - and often better - clubs on the financial front, however, their wheelings have fallen short on multiple occasions this year alone.
De Koning could fetch a league-leading sum on the open market, with Carlton's monetary position lacking in comparison despite the Blues reportedly having a near-seven-figure deal potentially in the works.
Amid a winless start to the season, De Koning's pair of performances to kickstart his eighth campaign will allow him to keep his head up high, having been the Blues' best across the losses to Richmond and Hawthorn.
His season-opening outing in the shock loss to the Tigers was rated as the third-best game in De Koning's career, while his most recent 40-hitout, 19-disposal, seven-clearance, 10-contested possession game against the Hawks made sure Round 1 was no anomaly.
Despite the successive defeats, De Koning has a strong chance to more than double his Brownlow votes tally in just two weeks, having polled just one vote in his 78 games before this year.
De Koning's price tag come the cessation of the pre-season was already set north of $1 million given his tremendous upside and strong showings last year, with injury capping his 2024 season at just 18 games.
What 2025 has displayed so far is that De Koning no longer needs to bank on potential and upside as the traits that place a premium on his value, with the 25-year-old well and truly arriving as a bonafide star of the completion.
The ruckman's stellar form has been among the few positives for the Blues this year, but it will only see his price tag soar throughout the season should his rise continue on its current trend.
It's a balancing act the Blues will be mindful of, with every starring game for the Mt Martha junior keeping them in the contest but potentially increasing the offers rivals will put forward for his services.
The 0-2 start dampens any equilibrium of the sort, with poor results in games where De Koning is still dominating a potentially frustrating combination for Blues fans.
Carlton's premiership contention could be a larger catalyst than the financial aspect in De Koning's negotiations, with a failed finals bid a worrying thought as a decision is delayed.
De Koning seems a player who will consider a pay cut with Carlton to remain loyal to Michael Voss' cause, but a season that could see them fall short of September might just drive a $1.7 million wedge between that bond.
The Saints are unlikely to be in a better position from a competitive standout this year, but their list demographic might suggest a rise up the ladder will come in the subsequent seasons.
De Koning's preferred role will also be something the 204cm talent will weigh up, with a shared ruck role likely on offer at Moorabbin given Rowan Marshall's reign as Ross Lyon's first-string ruckman.
The Blues have been locked on De Koning as their sole ruckman for most of the past 12 months, with Marc Pittonet left to wait in the wings while balancing injuries issues himself.
A De Koning exit would leave the Blues having to consider whether Pittonet - who is signed through to the end of 2027 - can be their No.1 man, or if they too need to look to the ruck market.
The money set aside for De Koning would make Carlton competitive for a formidable ruck target should one emerge, however they could look to strengthen another area of the ground and back in their current reinforcements.
