Moneyball: All the free agency and contract news around the AFL, how Blues can sweeten Tom De Koning deal
As Carlton’s salary cap stands, the Blues are tapped out in terms of what they can offer free agent Tom De Koning. Read the five other ways the Blues can sweeten the deal and more in Moneyball.
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Carlton is pretty much tapped out on maximising its offer for Tom De Koning.
It is already paying close to or more than a million bucks a year for Sam Walsh, Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay, Patrick Cripps and Jacob Weitering.
And the more it spends on De Koning the more it sets the market for 2026 free agent Walsh, who clubs like Geelong will hope to lure given his famed running power and ties to the region.
But there are ways in which the Blues could hope to creep closer to the $1.7 million per year offer for TDK that the Saints have on the table, which could also have a front-ended contract component.
Here are the five options the Blues could sweeten the deal and at least show TDK they are trying to do everything possible to increase a deal of around $1.1 million a year.
1. OFFER HIM A CLAUSE FOR AN EIGHTH SEASON
He turns 26 in July, so would play those seven years turning 33 midway through in the final year of that deal.
A games-based clause would likely take in the final two or three years to ensure the Blues were protected against him playing often early then being hit with a long-term issue in the back-end of the deal.
So if he managed to play 50 games in his final three years, or 40 in his final two years, he would get another $1.1 million guaranteed.
The issue could be though, is when have ruckmen been anywhere near their peak at 34? Aside from Max Gawn, who turns 34 in December.
2. MORE PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES
As many as 90 per cent of contracts have bonuses based on performances.
For instance $50,000 for winning the best-and-fairest, $40,000 for second, $30,000 for third.
The Blues could boost those triggers for De Koning – win the Nicholls Medal and you get $75,000, finish runner-up and you get $50,000.
Win an All Australian jumper and you get $100,000.
If he’s performing like that, the Blues won’t care what he’s paid.
It also ensures he has a higher ceiling for higher performance.
Put it this way – if he’s not finishing top 3 in the Blues best-and-fairest or in All Australian contention the reception won’t be great from fans if he’s earning $1.7 million a year.
3. USE THE SALARY CAP INCREASE
Some clubs like Essendon and West Coast don’t put in place clauses in contracts and keep all the money when a pay deal increases the salary cap.
Some offer a player all the uplift over a certain figure – if the cap goes up anything over seven per cent in a given year the player gets the extra percentage points.
Players with leverage like TDK can request some or all of that uplift.
With a TPP going up from 2028 onwards the Blues could hand him more of the increase than they want, believing the extra salary cap room will give them wiggle room to fit in his money.
4. GO WITH ONE LESS QUALITY RUCKMAN
It’s very risky given De Koning is coming off a broken foot last year but the Blues could keep him and trade back-up Marc Pittonet, who is on between $400,000-$500,000.
They would need a Tom Campbell type on minimum chips but even those are hard to find at a cheap enough price point for a player you actually trust.
Gawn would be earning $1 million a year, with Tom Fullarton on the list as well as Tom Campbell.
So right now Pittonet is the perfect back-up – an elite hitout to advantage player who is there when needed.
5. MAKE A TOUGH CALL ON ANOTHER DEPTH PLAYER
It would save them some cap space for De Koning
The problem for Carlton is that they have already let go of Matt Kennedy and Matt Owies.
Lewis Young is contracted as a back-up but came in and played a key role as a forward in two of his four games for the year.
So that final option is a dangerous game.
BLUES TO PLAY THE TDK WAITING GAME ON CONTRACTS
Carlton is prepared to wait on a decision from De Koning before settling a raft of other contract issues, but there will be a tipping point in the season where the Blues will have to get moving.
This masthead understands out of contract defender Mitch McGovern – who hasn’t missed a game this season – has a trigger clause in his deal which could be passed later this season, guaranteeing him next season.
George Hewett, who could be leading the Blues’ best and fairest, will enact his trigger on a fifth season at the club in the coming weeks.
And Nic Newman, who is working hard behind the scenes in an effort to come back from his ACL at the back end of 2025, could win an extension before the second half of the season.
Carlton has a host of other players in the final year of contracts, but will likely wait on them until it knows more of De Koning’s future plans.
De Koning is considering a lucrative seven-year deal believed to be between $7-8m to stay with the Blues – where he remains as engaged as ever and in strong form – and the temptation of St Kilda’s mind-boggling godfather offer of up to $1.7m per season.
Brodie Kemp, Jack Silvagni, Jesse Motlop and Sam Docherty are among a number of Blues in the final year of their current deals.
The Blues are believed to be in no rush with some of those negotiations but a tipping point will come later in the season in terms of a decision on De Koning’s future.
MERRETT BACKS DRAPER’S COMMITTMENT TO DONS
ESSENDON captain Zach Merrett says he is certain unrestricted free agent Sam Draper will be at the club long-term, labelling his impact on the team as “profound”.
Draper’s torn achilles will put him out for between 6-9 months, with the Bombers optimistic that he will be in full training by about Christmas.
The club will allow him some time to rehab after his surgery last Tuesday but his surgeon was happy with the operation.
List bosses are always wary about ruckmen doing achilles injuries because it often robs them of their jumping power in an AFL craft that involves so much explosiveness.
But rival list bosses suggest Draper is still worth paying $700,000 or more a season over a deal as long as five seasons.
Merrett told this masthead of his confidence in Draper’s decision while spruiking Carlton Dry’s 3.5 per cent beer activation which gives punters free midsection massages from qualified massage therapists at Marvel Stadium.
“He’s the heartbeat of our team and we love the energy that he gives during the week, but also clearly on game day,” Merrett said.”
“I think his energy and the way he plays, players love playing with him, and also fans love showing up to games to watch him live, because he does some crazy things on the field. But he’s an Essendon person. The way he’s committed himself to the club the last six to eight years has been profound, and with his footy he was starting to click into gear this year as well.
“The way he was playing was probably his career best footy. So it’s disappointing to see him go down for us and for him this year. But no doubt, long term, he will stay and hopefully continue to get better as a player as well.”
GIANTS TO STAY FIRM ON YOUNG STAR
Greater Western Sydney is intent on keeping Leek Aleer on a two-year deal, aware a later pick in a compromised draft due to academy selections does absolutely nothing for their list position.
Aleer continues to play exceptional football in the VFL, reeling in four intercept marks and eight intercept possessions against Footscray despite St Kilda’s massive interest.
The 23-year-old is the No. 15 selection from the 2021 national draft and if anything his stocks have risen since he was taken in the first round.
But if he does eventually try to get to St Kilda they would be keen to offer a later pick and the Giants would want a mid-range first-rounder.
Any pick in the 20s would blow out at least 10 spots so would do little to help the Giants apart from gather some draft points for academy players.
Xavier O’Halloran was keen to re-sign despite being offered a deal by the Dogs over the summer but has lately been a perennial sub.
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