Carlton forward Tom De Koning has been linked to a move to the Sydney Swans.
Those links arose after journalist Sam McClure wrote an article in The Age stating that well-placed sources believe the Swans are willing to offer De Koning a monster eight-year deal if he remains unsigned.
With the out-of-contract tall set to be one of the most in-demand players this off-season, McClure’s article also suggests Sydney players may have heard of the potential move behind the scenes.
According to McClure, a young Swan told De Koning, “I cannot wait until next year when you’re playing in red and white”, during last week’s practice match at Bankstown.
In response to the report, SEN Sportsday duo Kane Cornes and Gerard Healy discussed De Koning’s worth on the open market and whether a move to Sydney made sense.
Cornes: “What’s Tom De Koning worth? At least (a first-rounder).
“(Tim) Taranto, off the top of my head got traded for picks 12 and 19, he (De Koning) is a more in-demand asset than Tim Taranto (particularly) at his age and the position he plays.”
Healy: “I’d hold off, it’s only speculation at the moment if it’s based on a young kid talking to Tom De Koning about what’s going to potentially happen next year. I’d tread cautiously.”
Cornes: “He’s worth a million bucks in terms of salary.”
Healy: “As if some young kid is going to know whether Tom de Koning is going to Sydney next year, even the old blokes wouldn’t know.
“It would be Buddy-esque how secret this would be, I would be very surprised if it’s general knowledge in Sydney who they’re looking for.
“If they’re after Tom De Koning, good luck to you, but that’s the start of a very difficult process.”
Cornes: “You make a good point, but you can put two and two together and think Sydney would be very keen to get him.”
Healy: “Every club would be keen to get him … I wouldn’t be letting him out of the joint for hell or high water.”
Cornes: “Can they afford to keep him? I think he’s at least worth, I think, $1 million in salary (per year).
“Carlton are going to get something pretty good for him (if he leaves), look at what Luke Jackson went for.”
De Koning has played 41 games for Carlton since being taken with pick No. 30 in the 2017 National Draft.