Carlton coach Michael Voss all-but confirmed Tom De Koning's departure from the club and admitted the AFL world is 'not mature enough' to handle a mid-season announcement of a move to a different team.
De Koning is expected to join St Kilda as a free agent on a monster $1.7 million-a year contract over multiple years, with a decision likely communicated publicly next week.
After the Blues' 34-point win over Essendon on Thursday night to close out a disappointing season without finals, Voss conceded De Koning was likely to leave the club and also revealed he believes the AFL currently can't deal with a player announcing their decision to move clubs in the middle of a campaign.
"When you wait this long, we're not expecting the best of news," Voss said.
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"But we're holding on to that hope that it's going to be here.
"It's effectively his midfield, and he's led that really well.
So if he does leave, it'll be disappointing, but it'll be next man up and we'll keep moving on as a football club."
Voss continued: "I just get concerned a little about that when I see the types of responses of an Oscar Allen (who is likely to leave West Coast) that has to go through what he went through," Voss said.
"Seeing what he had to work through, the impact it had on him.
"I would have huge concerns about that.
"We say we want to grow up as a football industry, but I don't think we're ready."
De Koning, who played his 100th game for the Blues on Thursday night, didn't really try to hose down speculation of his departure from the club, effectively giving what seemed like a goodbye speech in the rooms after the game.
"Thanks for all the good times over the past eight years," De Koning said.
"Obviously a disappointing year but yeah, keep going and doing good things. All the best."