Tom De Koning is ascending into one of the top few ruckmen in the AFL.
That is the opinion of Nathan Buckley who has been taken by what the emerging Carlton talent has produced in 2024, particularly in recent weeks.
De Koning, 24, had 34 hit-outs, 25 disposals, 10 score involvements, seven clearances, seven inside 50s and six tackles in the massive 63-point win over Geelong on at the MCG Friday night.
Across his last four outings, De Koning has averaged 27 hit-outs, 23 disposals, nine clearances and five inside 50s, coinciding with four straight Blues wins and attracting high praise from Buckley.
The former Collingwood coach can see the athletic 74-game Blue joining the likes of Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy on the elite ruck mantle.
“I love this young fella and the way that he’s going about his football at the moment,” Buckley said on SEN Breakfast.
“His performance on Friday backed up one from a couple of weeks ago against Essendon.
“He could well be the in-form ruckman of the competition, even above Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy.
“The question about Carlton’s ruck setup and (Marc) Pittonet, I love Pittonet as a player and I think it will be really interesting to see what Carlton do going forward.
“Because this kid is going to play in this position for the next seven or eight years and he could well be match any other ruckman in the comp.
“In ruck contests and aerially around the ground he gives you what Max Gawn gives you. Then he follows up like a Brodie Grundy. If we see those two as the preeminent modern ruckman of the last six to eight years, well, he’s a mix of both of them. He could well be the best of both of them.
“Which is saying a fair bit.”
Co-host Kane Cornes asked: “As good as Gawn?”
Buckley feels that De Koning possesses the weapons to be one of the very best by season’s end as he continues to make life easier for Carlton’s midfield unit around him.
“In the air and in hit-outs, I think so,” he added.
“If he continues on his trajectory we’ll be talking about him seriously at the end of the year about whether he’s the best ruckman in the competition and worthy of All-Australian.
“He hasn’t been poor through the first half of the year, he’s been bubbling along. He’s in the sweet spot at the moment and his last two weeks have been huge.
“He’s pushed out Pittonet as a really good second ruckman. He said, ‘Nah, I’m ready. At 24, I’m ready to take 85 per cent of ruck time, I’ll float forward and take a mark, I’ll roll back and put 80-metre efforts in and a fist in when the game needs to be saved. I’ll do chase-down tackles, diving smothers, in and under’.
“His contested ball count over the last couple of weeks has been through the roof. I love what he’s doing, I think he’s a combative ruckman and you definitely need that.
“The effect on the midfielders around him is showing. Life as a Patty Cripps, as a Sam Walsh, as a George Hewett, as a Cerra when he comes back, it’s even better when you’ve got a young man like this who takes that next step because I think he makes your job easier.”
After seeing off the Cats in Round 15, De Koning and the Blues will look to improve their 10-4 record when they meet 17th-placed Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.