He hasn’t officially posed in front of the cameras in a red, white and black jumper, but Carlton star Tom De Koning has well and truly decided his future lies with St Kilda, according to Channel Nine’s Sam McClure.
De Koning has been tipped to head to Moorabbin for much of the year, but following Carlton’s final match of the season last Thursday night, it’s believed the ruckman has now finally settled on a deal with the Saints that will see him earn as much as $1.7 million per season over eight years.
"He has informed people around him that he will be joining the St Kilda Football Club."
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 25, 2025
Sam McClure with the latest on Tom De Koning joining St Kilda on 'one of the biggest deals in free agency history'.#9FootyClassified | Watch on Nine & 9Now 🖥️ pic.twitter.com/JYjOICu6Jg
Jack Silvagni is also expected to exit through the doors of Ikon Park with De Koning, but the list of departures may grow even longer for Carlton, who are now sweating on Charlie Curnow’s exit interview later this week.
Curnow has already rejected speculation about his future this season, but Channel Seven’s Caroline Wilson believes the door is not yet fully shut on a potential exit.
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“Charlie Curnow I believe is going to have some strong words to say at his exit interview… my view is that Charlie is still eyeing an exit from the football club,” Wilson said on The Agenda Setters.
“I know he has stated that he is not leaving the club. But we know he showed interest in going up to the Gold Coast.
“My view is that the Sydney Swans are shaping up as a possible home for Charlie Curnow.
“I just think that Charlie Curnow has just not been super happy at Carlton. He has some issues with the football club.”
Curnow was initially rumoured to be exploring the possibility of joining the Gold Coast Suns, suggestions he has since flatly denied.
“I obviously want to be here. I don’t really want to make this about me right now, but I’m playing at Carlton next year. There you go. Done,” he told a reporter after his side’s round 20 defeat to Hawthorn.
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Curnow was not seen following the Blues’ loss to the Hawks, as he was sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee concern.
In his absence, star teammate Harry McKay stepped up to produce a seven-goal haul against Port Adelaide in round 23, which was enough to convince AFL great Matthew Lloyd that the Blues should move on from one of Curnow or McKay ahead of next year.
“Now we wonder, what do they do? Do they make a big, bold call on… Charlie Curnow?” Lloyd posed last week.
“Cause I don’t think Harry and Charlie work that well together, they sort of get in each other’s way."