Kane Cornes has named five clubs who should target out-of-contract Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning.
The rising 23-year-old had a career-best season for the Blues in the ruck, filling in for the injured Marc Pittonet.
His athleticism and contested marking prowess has many believing he could one day be an elite ruck-forward.
Cornes has previously stated that the “A-grade talent” could be worth $1 million a year later in his career.
The Power great names Essendon as the team who should be most interested in acquiring De Koning’s services following the 2023 season – assuming he doesn’t re-sign with Carlton.
“When you have a player with the talent of Tom De Koning out of contract, clubs come hard for him,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“I reckon he would be just on the average wage which is about $370,000. Last year I said his next contract could be worth $1 million and I don’t reckon I’m going to be far off.
“He’s 23, he’s 203cm and the thing about him is he can be a key forward, but he can also ruck.
“My message this morning, and I don’t want to affront the Carlton fans, is to Essendon. If you are Essendon, you almost hand over a blank cheque and say ‘what do you want, son?’.
“They are desperate for a key forward. I think he is absolutely perfect for the Bombers and the longer he remains unsigned, the more nervous Carlton fans will become.
“The club has already said their salary cap is bulging … Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow have just signed big, long-term deals … there’s only so much that goes around.
“If De Koning is chasing money then he is going to get a lot of it and go from the average wage to about $1 million next year.
“Does he solve some problems for Essendon as a key forward? Harry Jones and De Koning, two young key forwards, it would be terrific and also as a backup ruckman with Sam Draper who is really impressive.”
Cornes named four other teams who could also be in the mix for De Koning.
“So that’s the number one club that should offer him some cash,” he added.
“Then I go to St Kilda and think how good he would be. They’re so reliant on Max King, he’d be perfect for the next couple of years if he went there.
“Then there’s Hawthorn who just need all the talent they can get under the age of 25.
“Then I look at Sydney. They’re going to lose Lance Franklin and Sam Reid. Tom Hickey is a B-grade ruckman with all due respect.
“Sydney we know go hard for key forwards and have a record of doing that.
“Then, to make Carlton fans even more nervous, he’s got a premiership brother who plays at Geelong down the highway – I don’t think Geelong could afford to get him, but Tom Hawkins is 35, he’s going to retire at some point, and Jeremy Cameron is 30 so they would love to have him and team him up with his brother.”