Michael Voss’ Marc Pittonet ruck statement makes for popcorn worthy TDK viewing

Michael Voss is making a statement by leaving ruckman Tom De Koning in the forward pocket, but is it protection or persecution of a player who has a big call to make in 2026?

The only thing interesting about watching Carlton right now is Tom De Koning.

If you put aside the theorising about whether coach Michael Voss should be sacked, it’s impossible not to be drawn to De Koning’s weekly decline which has become popcorn worthy.

It’s becoming sad and like a bad soap opera where everyone knows how it’s going to end but can’t stop watching it anyway.

De Koning is clearly mentally shot as he weighs up St Kilda’s insane offer of $1.7 million to move there next season. It’s not his fault they’ve backed up the truck and are throwing a ridiculous cheque at him.

How that call is looking now is a whole other story and you’d think there are some St Kilda board members wondering about what they’re selling the farm for.

The question now is more about is Voss helping TDK or persecuting him for his pending departure?

Tom De Koning was handed a statement from Michael Voss. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Starting him in a forward pocket and handing the No.1 ruck duties to Marc Pittonet against Brisbane on Friday night is a statement from the coach about next season.

There is no other way to dress it up.

Voss has a story which he’s sticking to and that centres around the absence of Harry McKay at full-forward meaning the Blues need another tall target down there to help Charlie Curnow.

Resting ruckmen as forward pockets may have worked back in the 1980s but they don’t work now, just ask Fremantle. De Koning is not a forward, has never been a forward and has no idea about playing as a forward.

And if you’re desperate to play a big lump in the pocket, why not make it Pittonet?

Instead Voss is withering De Koning on the vine. The 25-year-old is one of his few real match-winners yet it seems he’d rather keep him away from the action as much as possible.

It was only five weeks ago that Voss and Essendon’s Brad Scott gave De Koning a perfect 10 votes in the Coaches Association award for his 23 possessions, seven clearances, 29 hit-outs and one goal.

Oh, and Carlton won that night.

In the three games where Voss has gone with the two ruckmen over the past month De Koning’s output has dropped significantly, averaging just 13 possessions and 14 hit-outs.

Pittonet has been particularly good in the hit-outs going 21, 33 and 35 against the Lions. His centre square work was impressive and the big Frenchman also chimed in with two goals to be far from the worst Blue on another ordinary night.

But at best he’s a serviceable big man who will do a job. He doesn’t win games and that’s what De Koning has shown he’s capable of over the past 12 months. Well, St Kilda certainly thinks that clearly.

With one minute left in the third quarter on Friday night De Koning received Bronx cheers from his own fans when he took his first mark for the night.

It was a sad indictment on what is happening with Carlton at the moment but Voss was defensive after the Blues fourth consecutive loss when pressed on the TDK dilemma.

“Tom’s a very important person to us, a very important person. He’s grown at this football club, we’d love to see him see out his career here, and we’re really hoping that that’s the case,” Voss said.

Marc Pittonet’s form has been rewarded. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Tom De Koning ruck minutes have been slashed. Picture: Mark Stewart

“At the moment, he’s a little bit challenged, but he’s a very important person to us, and we hope that he has a really long-term future here.”

Asked for elaboration on that phrasing and whether it suggested an injury cloud, Voss reassured: “No, he’s fine.

“All players out there, when you walk over the line, you’re fine. So, I wouldn’t read anything into that . . . he’s fine, he’s ready to go, he’s got a role to play, and we’re just trying to get the most out of him.”

He was then probed specifically about the forward line role and whether it at all hinted at a resignation from the club about the star’s contract verdict.

“No, it’s pretty black and white for us. I think you’re reading well and truly too much into it. I don’t tend to play in that sort of area,” Voss said.

“We need a role filled forward of the ball at the moment, we’re challenged with some talls right now, and ‘Pitto’s (Pittonet) in great form, so he deserves to be in the team.

“We need some tall timber forward of the ball that can draw the footy . . . there’s a need to have Tom there at the moment. So, that’s the role we’re asking him to play.

“I’ll just make it black and white. You don’t need to read into it too much more than that . . . we need him forward from a personnel point of view.”

Some would say the evidence is black and white suggesting that plan isn’t working. It didn’t against North Melbourne in Rd 15, it didn’t against Collingwood in Rd 17 and, wait for it, drum roll please, it didn’t against Brisbane on Friday night.

Unless of course, a message is being sent. If that’s the case, it’s being delivered loud and clear to St Kilda’s 2026 No.1 ruckman.

Originally published as Michael Voss’ Marc Pittonet ruck statement makes for popcorn worthy TDK viewing