Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes believes Carlton’s Tom De Koning could be one of the highest-paid players in the league if he continues his current trajectory.
De Koning was strong for Carlton in their win against Fremantle duo Sean Darcy and Rory Lobb on Saturday, earning 22 hitouts to go with 13 disposals against his more experienced opponents.
Speaking on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show Cornes said the 22-year-old is performing at an elite level similar to some of the best rucks in the game.
“He’s a freak, eight hitouts to advantage yesterday and some of it was Naitanui-esque,” he said.
“His ability to do damage in the centre-bounce set-ups and then around the ground we've seen how strong he's been aerially.
“I'm hearing $10.5 million for seven years for Luke Jackson … De Koning is not far off that.”
The 300-gamer is adamant at least one club will throw a godfather offer at the young tall to pry him out of the star-studded Carlton side.
“He’s out of contract at the end of next year, there will be a club out there that pays that sort of dollars for him,” he said.
“I think he's a better forward than Jackson and to be able to hold up and do the damage from the ruck, it's one that another club, with the attributes he’s got, will pay big, big money for.
“Everyone wants a second ruck that can rest forward.
“He could be the next million-dollar man.”
De Koning is averaging 10.5 disposals per game on top of 16.3 hitouts and will face a tough challenge next round against St Kilda’s Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall.