St Kilda's "bombshell multi-million dollar" play to lure off-contract Geelong tall Sam De Koning to Moorabbin alongside his brother Tom is set to fall short as the former reportedly plans to re-sign with the Cats.
Both De Konings are unsigned beyond this year, with Tom eligible for free agency while Sam doesn't have the same flexibility on the open market.
Tom has garnered strong reported interest from the Saints as the Victorian club looks to utilise a large opening in their salary cap, with the Carlton ruckman among their top targets in 2025.
Amid their interest in the Blues big man, St Kilda are also said to have expressed an interest in his younger brother Sam as part of a move to try and reunite the Mt Martha juniors.
According to 7 News' Xander McGuire, the Saints moved for the younger De Koning but will see their play fall short as the Cats premiership tall looks set to re-sign with Geelong.
"Sam De Koning is now committed to staying at Geelong," McGuire reported on Wednesday night.
"The Cats' premiership defender turned ruckman fielded rival offers but has now made a contract extension at Kardinia Park his priority, with his value no doubt increasing after a strong start to the season.
"Among those opposition bids; an intriguing proposal from the Saints. St Kilda approached both Sam and Tom De Koning, opening a discussion around whether the high-profile brothers, who are both out of contract at the end of the year, would consider a bombshell multi-million dollar reunion at Moorabbin.
"It's now off the cards, with Sam set to remain down the highway, but whether the Saints can still entice brother Tom to jump ship remains another story."
The re-signing of De Koning will add to a strong signing spree for Geelong, who locked away forward quartet Jeremy Cameron, Oliver Henry, Shannon Neale and Brad Close over the past week.
Geelong still has a large list of players off-contract this year, with senior contingent Tom Atkins, Mitch Ducan, Oliver Dempsey, Cameron Guthrie, Rhys Stanley, and Mark Blicavs among those unsigned for the 2026 season.
St Kilda have managed a strong signing period of their own, with Mitch Owens, Angus Hastie, Hugo Garcia, Jack Higgins and Hunter Clark recommitting to Ross Lyon's cause over the past month, however retention priority Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera remains without a deal beyond the current season and is said to be in the sights of South Australian rivals.
The Saints' interest in Tom De Koning comes as the Blues likely struggle to compete with the potential offers St Kilda could table the 25-year-old.
