Tom De Koning

Tom De Koning
Tom De Koning playing football
Personal information
Nickname(s) TDK, The King
Date of birth (1999-07-16) 16 July 1999 (age 25)
Original team(s) Mt Martha/Dandenong Stingrays
Draft No. 30, 2017 national draft
Debut 19 August 2018, Carlton vs. Western Bulldogs, at Docklands Stadium
Height 204 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight 103 kg (227 lb)
Position(s) Ruck/Forward
Club information
Current club Carlton
Number 12
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018– Carlton 78 (30)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2024 season.
Source: AFL Tables Carlton official website

Tom De Koning (/ˈkoʊnɪŋ/ KOH-ning;[1] born 16 July 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for Carlton in the Australian Football League (AFL).

De Koning attended Padua College[2] and played junior football for Mt Martha with current teammate Jacob Weitering[3] and St Kilda player Hunter Clark. He typically played as a ruckman.[4] De Koning joined TAC Cup club Dandenong Stingrays and kicked nine goals in 2016 as a 17-year-old against the Northern Knights.[5] He joined the AFL Academy, played 11 TAC Cup games and kicked 17 goals.[2] De Koning lacerated his kidney in July 2017 after a fall in a ruck contest, but recovered and was drafted by Carlton with pick 30 in the 2017 AFL national draft.[3] In 2018, De Koning extended his contract until 2021,[6] and made his AFL debut in round 22 against the Western Bulldogs at Docklands Stadium. He recorded 11 disposals, five marks and kicked his first goal in the second quarter.[7] Tom extended his contract with the Carlton Football club until 2025.

De Koning is the son of former Footscray player Terry De Koning[4] and has nine siblings, including Geelong footballer Sam De Koning. His Dutch grandfather Martin was a migrant to Australia.[3]

References

  1. ^ "How to say the AFL's trickiest names". Australian Football League. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Rays kick on to bigger things". TAC Cup. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b c De Bolfo, Tony (24 November 2017). "New Blue Tom 'over the moon'". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b De Bolfo, Tony (23 August 2018). "My boy Tom – Terry De Koning tells". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  5. ^ McEvoy, Simon (9 May 2016). "Dandenong Stingray Tom De Koning bags nine goals against Northern Knights". Herald Sun. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Extensions for young pair is good news for Blues". afl.com.au. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  7. ^ Beveridge, Riley (31 August 2018). "Five talking points: Carton v Western Bulldogs". afl.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2018.