AFL Grand Final: Star defender Sam De Koning kicks first senior goal in premiership win
Cats rising star Sam De Koning has conceded he “ignored” team instructions in an effort to kick his first AFL goal on grand final day.
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Cats rising star Sam De Koning has conceded he “ignored” team instructions in an effort to kick his first AFL goal on grand final day.
The key defender was playing in his 24th senior game in Saturday’s season decider when he snuck forward and found himself uncontested on the goal line.
De Koning said he felt “cheeky” to mark a Patrick Dangerfield snap at goal in the final quarter.
“I almost felt bad because he’s had the shot and it might’ve gone in if I had just left it,” he said.
“It’s all a bit instinctive, but kicking it was all pretty surreal.
“When I kicked it I looked around and thought to myself ‘how good is this, I’ve kicked a goal on grand final day’.
“I was telling the boys all year that I’d snag one at some stage, then I didn’t get one in the preliminary final and a few of the guys were telling me I wouldn’t get another chance.”
De Koning’s goal put the Cats 81 points up, which ultimately was the final margin in the fifth-most lopsided grand final result in VFL/AFL history.
He became the 16th player in the league’s history to kick their first goal in a grand final, with Tigers winger Marlion Pickett the last to do it.
De Koning said he went forward despite the coaching staff telling the defensive unit to hold its structure for the rest of the game.
“None of the coaches told me to go forward, if anything they told us at three quarter time to play out the game,” he said.
“I sort of snuck forward and tried to get myself some glory and luckily Danger snapped it at goal and I was right there.
“It was probably the moment that it started to sink in that we had won it, I don’t really think it had until that point.
“But it’s been an amazing season, I’ve come in as a young kid with these older guys around me, and the whole way along they’ve been so supportive.”
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Originally published as AFL Grand Final: Star defender Sam De Koning kicks first senior goal in premiership win
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