Blues look to lock down Tom De Koning before 2025 season
Jacob Weitering is the latest Blue to sign a long-term deal on big coin, now the Blues are turning their attention to another star name, one that will command a hefty price.
Carlton
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Carlton will ramp up its plans to take star ruck-forward Tom De Koning off the free agency table before the start of next season, after locking away vice-captain Jacob Weitering on a six-year contract extension.
Weitering, 26, has agreed to a bumper multimillion-dollar deal that ties him to the Blues until the end of the 2031 season.
The Blues have been determined to get their 2025 signing priorities locked away as early as possible, with Weitering always considered the most likely of those dominoes to fall.
Now, following the trade period, the Blues list management team will swiftly turn their attention towards securing 25-year-old De Koning, who will command a huge deal off the back of his strong 2024 season.
The Herald Sun understands the club would prefer to have that deal locked away before next year’s Opening Round.
He signed a two-year contract midway through last year after staying loyal to the Blues, despite strong interest from Sydney, St Kilda and Geelong.
Other priority signings who will enter the final year of their contracts next year include rebounding defender Adam Saad, midfielder Adam Cerra, defender/swingman Mitch McGovern, back-to-back best and fairest runner-up Nic Newman and veteran Sam Docherty.
Star midfielder Sam Walsh comes out of contract at the end of 2026.
Weitering said on Monday he had only ever wanted to play with Carlton, despite some interest from St Kilda this year.
“Carlton made a significant investment in me in 2015, and I couldn’t imagine playing football anywhere else,” he said.
“When I first started at the club, we went through some tough times, but I couldn’t be more confident in the stability and direction of the football club as we head into the coming years.”
Carlton list boss Nick Austin said the Blues “couldn’t be happier” to lock in Weitering.
The list manager has overseen bumper extensions for Weitering (to 2031), and goalkickers Charlie Curnow (2029) and Harry McKay (2030).
“To have played like Jacob, Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow not only grow up alongside one another at Carlton but now all signed and committed to the club until at least 2029 and beyond, it is a real testament to the stability we are building,” Austin said.
The reliable Weitering, who turns 27 next month, has played 181 games for the Blues and reached at least 20 games in six of his nine seasons.
The fullback was taken with the first pick in the 2015 draft and has developed into one of the most reliable tall defenders in the league, finally breaking through for his first All-Australian blazer this year.
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