Eight key facts at a glance, one pattern: Tom De Koning’s profile is a blend of confirmed bio data and still-unfolding circumstances around his health and contract.
Age (2025): 25 years old (born 1999) | Height: 201 cm | AFL Club: St Kilda (from 2025) | Previous Club: Carlton (2018–2024) | Games Played (end 2024): 78 | Key Injury: Collapsed lung + fractured foot (2025)
Quick snapshot
- Previously at Carlton (2018–2024) (AFL.com.au (league’s official news platform))
- Brother Sam De Koning plays for Geelong (The Age (Melbourne-based newspaper))
- 201 cm tall (AFL.com.au (league’s official news platform))
- Suffered collapsed lung and fractured foot in 2025 (AFL.com.au (league’s official news platform))
- Exact contract value from St Kilda (AustraliaPress (news aggregator))
- Recovery timeline after collapsed lung (AFL.com.au (league’s official news platform))
- Specific residence address (Melbourne area only known) (AustraliaPress (news aggregator))
- Whether broken ribs were part of injury (unconfirmed Reddit report) (AustraliaPress (news aggregator))
- Whether Tom and Sam are twins – they are not, with Sam about two years younger (Southern Monitor (independent news site))
- Tom’s current club status – he moved to St Kilda as of 2025, official announcement not made public until August 2025 (AustraliaPress (news aggregator))
- 1999: Born (AFL.com.au)
- 2018: Drafted by Carlton (AFL.com.au)
- 2025: Moved to St Kilda (announced 26 Aug 2025) (AustraliaPress)
- 2025: Collapsed lung injury (AFL.com.au)
- St Kilda debut in 2026 season; calf strain management during pre-season (Zero Hanger (AFL news site))
- Long-term recovery from lung injury unclear (Zero Hanger (AFL news site))
Eight key facts at a glance, one pattern: Tom De Koning’s career is a mix of verified statistics and still-evolving health and contract questions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tom De Koning |
| Sport | Australian Rules Football (AFL) |
| Current Team | St Kilda Saints (from 2025) |
| Previous Team | Carlton Blues (2018–2024) |
| Position | Ruck |
| Height | 201 cm |
| Date of Birth | 1999 (exact date not public) |
| Twin Brother | Not twins — Sam De Koning (Geelong) is about 2 years younger |
Who is Tom De Koning?
Tom De Koning’s background
Tom De Koning is an Australian rules footballer who plays as a ruckman. He was born in 1999 and attended school in Victoria before being drafted into the AFL. His brother Sam De Koning also plays professionally for Geelong, though the pair are not twins — Tom is roughly two years older than Sam, according to Southern Monitor (independent news site). The misconception that they are twins persists partly because they entered the league close together and share a last name.
AFL career overview
Drafted by Carlton in 2018, De Koning played 78 games for the Blues across seven seasons and kicked 9 goals, per AFL.com.au (the league’s official news platform). He became a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025 season, a status that triggered strong interest from rival clubs. In February 2025, De Koning told The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet) that he had “no timeline” for deciding his future.
“I love it here [at Carlton]” — but with free agency looming, the ruckman kept his options open through the 2025 season.
— Tom De Koning, quoted by AFL.com.au
De Koning’s draft-to-free-agency arc mirrors the modern AFL ruck path: develop behind a senior big man, build a resume of 70-plus games, then test the market at peak value. At 25, he’s still young for a ruckman — his best football may be ahead of him if his body holds up.
The implication: De Koning still has time to fulfill his potential if his body cooperates.
What happened to Tom De Koning?
Injury details
De Koning’s 2025 season was cut short by multiple problems. A report from AFL.com.au (league’s official news platform) confirmed he suffered a fractured foot and received treatment for a collapsed lung. The lung injury was serious enough to require hospital care, and online discussions on Reddit (unverified) also referenced broken ribs, though that detail has not been independently confirmed by club or league sources.
- Fractured foot — confirmed by AFL.com.au (tier 1 source)
- Collapsed lung — confirmed by AFL.com.au
- Broken ribs — reported on Reddit (tier 3, unconfirmed by official channels)
Current recovery
As of late 2025, De Koning is managing recovery from both the lung issue and the foot fracture. A report noted he was also dealing with a calf strain heading into St Kilda’s 2026 pre-season, raising questions about his readiness for round one.
The pattern: St Kilda invested in a ruckman who played only partial seasons in two of his last three years at Carlton. The Saints’ medical team now faces the task of getting a 201-cm athlete with a recent collapsed lung and a fractured foot back to full fitness — a timeline that remains deliberately vague.
St Kilda took a calculated risk: secure a young ruckman with proven AFL output but an injury file that now includes a collapsed lung, fractured foot, and calf strain. For the Saints, the upside is a 201-cm contested-marking weapon. The downside is that premium ruck contracts carry a 3–5 year commitment — time that becomes costly if the medical setbacks continue.
What this means: the Saints are betting on De Koning’s upside despite mounting medical concerns.
Are Tom and Sam De Koning twins?
Twin brother Sam De Koning
No. Tom and Sam De Koning are not twins. According to Southern Monitor (independent news site), Tom was born in 1999 while Sam was born in 2001, making Tom roughly two years older. The age gap was visible during a sibling matchup at the MCG in June 2024, when The Age (Melbourne-based newspaper) described Tom as 24 and Sam as 23 — a one-year age difference at that point, consistent with a 1999 vs 2001 birth year.
De Koning family
Tom and Sam are the only two De Koning brothers known in professional AFL. Their sister Zoe De Koning was featured in an AFL.com.au (league’s official news platform) article where she discussed her brothers’ careers. The pair play for different clubs — Tom at St Kilda (formerly Carlton) and Sam at Geelong — making their matchups a recurring family storyline in the AFL calendar. Fox Sports Australia (sports broadcaster) noted in March 2025 that Sam had missed 10 of 48 games since the start of 2023 because of injury, underscoring that durability challenges run in the family.
How much did St Kilda offer Tom De Koning?
Free agency contract details
On 26 August 2025, Carlton announced that De Koning had informed the club he would take up free agency with St Kilda, per AustraliaPress (news aggregator). A subsequent report from Zero Hanger (AFL news site) said he was recruited as a restricted free agent during the 2025 Trade and Free Agency Period. The specific dollar figure of the contract has not been publicly confirmed — club and player typically keep financial terms confidential in AFL free agency deals.
Salary figures
While AFL clubs do not disclose individual salaries as a matter of course, the free agency market for a ruckman of De Koning’s age and draft pedigree typically commands a contract in the range of $600,000–$900,000 per year based on comparable deals. This remains speculative because no official figure has been released by St Kilda or Carlton. The AFL.com.au (league’s official news platform) had reported earlier that rival clubs were expected to pursue him aggressively once he hit free agency, pointing to a bidding environment.
St Kilda took a calculated risk: secure a young ruckman with proven AFL output but an injury file that now includes a collapsed lung, fractured foot, and calf strain. For the Saints, the upside is a 201-cm contested-marking weapon. The downside is that premium ruck contracts carry a 3–5 year commitment — time that becomes costly if the medical setbacks continue.
The implication: St Kilda’s investment carries long-term risk if injuries persist.
A comparison of the two De Koning brothers, one pattern: Tom and Sam share a last name and a sport, but their career paths, teams, and injury histories diverge significantly.
| Attribute | Tom De Koning | Sam De Koning |
|---|---|---|
| Team | St Kilda Saints (from 2025) | Geelong Cats |
| Birth Year | 1999 | 2001 |
| Height | 201 cm | Not publicly listed |
| Games Missed (2023–2025) | Significant — collapsed lung, foot fracture | Missed 10 of 48 games since 2023 (Fox Sports) |
| Free Agency Status | Moved as restricted free agent 2025 | Under contract at Geelong |
Timeline: Tom De Koning’s career
- 1999: Tom De Koning born (Southern Monitor)
- 2018: Drafted by Carlton (AFL.com.au)
- 2018–2024: Plays 78 games for Carlton, scores 9 goals (AFL.com.au)
- Feb 2025: Says he has “no timeline” for free agency decision (SMH)
- 2025 season: Suffers fractured foot and collapsed lung (AFL.com.au)
- 26 Aug 2025: Carlton announces De Koning will move to St Kilda (AustraliaPress)
The pattern: his career has been punctuated by injuries and a major club switch.
What we know and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Previously at Carlton (2018–2024) (AFL.com.au)
- 201 cm tall (AFL.com.au)
- Has a brother Sam De Koning who plays for Geelong (The Age)
- Suffered a collapsed lung and fractured foot in 2025 (AFL.com.au)
What’s unclear
- Exact salary or contract offer from St Kilda (not publicly disclosed)
- Recovery timeline from collapsed lung and foot fracture
- Whether broken ribs were part of the injury (reported on Reddit only, unconfirmed by AFL sources)
- His current residence address (only general Melbourne area known)
- Whether Tom and Sam are twins – they are not, with Sam about two years older (Southern Monitor)
- Tom’s current club status – he moved to St Kilda as of 2025, official announcement not made public until August 2025 (AustraliaPress)
The implication: many crucial details remain unknown, making his future uncertain.
What they’re saying
“I love it here [at Carlton]” — but with free agency looming, the ruckman kept his options open through the 2025 season.
— Tom De Koning, quoted by AFL.com.au
“He has no timeline for making a call on his future.”
— The Sydney Morning Herald (February 2025)
“St Kilda has recruited Tom De Koning as a restricted free agent.”
— Zero Hanger (AFL news site)
Tom De Koning’s story is still being written — literally. As of late 2025, he has a new club, a recovering body, and a public perception shaped more by rumor than verified fact. For St Kilda fans, the bet is that a healthy De Koning provides the ruck dominance the Saints have lacked. For the player himself, the 2026 season is a proving ground: show he can stay on the park, or risk becoming another cautionary tale about tall timber and big contracts.
sunlineinsight.com, australiapress.net, ozbriefly.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, carltonfc.com.au
Frequently asked questions
What position does Tom De Koning play?
He plays as a ruckman in the AFL, primary role being contested hit-outs and marking around the ground.
How tall is Tom De Koning?
He is 201 cm tall, per AFL.com.au.
Is Tom De Koning injured?
He suffered a collapsed lung and a fractured foot during the 2025 season, and later a calf strain heading into St Kilda’s pre-season. His recovery timeline remains unconfirmed.
When did Tom De Koning leave Carlton?
He informed Carlton on 26 August 2025 that he would take up free agency with St Kilda, per AustraliaPress.
What team does Tom De Koning play for now?
He plays for the St Kilda Saints after moving via free agency in the 2025 off-season.
Who is Tom De Koning’s brother?
His brother is Sam De Koning, who plays for the Geelong Cats. They are not twins — Tom is about two years older.
How many games has Tom De Koning played?
He played 78 games for Carlton from 2018 to 2024, scoring 9 goals, per AFL.com.au.
Related reading
- Chris Scott: Biography, Tragedy, Wife & Career — profile of the Geelong coach whose team faces De Koning’s St Kilda
- Cade Cunningham: Collapsed Lung Diagnosis and NBA Career Overview — another professional athlete who recovered from a collapsed lung, offering context for De Koning’s recovery path
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australian News Desk, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.