Versatile tall could fill some big boots
VIC Country coach Leigh Brown says Sam De Koning would be “thrilled” at landing at Geelong after the Cats pounced on the 201cm teenager at pick 19.
De Koning, who is the younger brother of Carlton tall Tom De Koning, impressed at the national under-18s championships this year under Brown’s tutelage.
The Collingwood premiership player said the versatile De Koning would be capable of filling holes at either end of GMHBA Stadium
“He is a versatile player first and foremost as he can play either end of the ground,” Brown said last night.
“I think his primary position is down back, and through the championships we saw him play some exceptional football down there, where he was defence-first and then his intercept marking came into play, so I think Geelong has got a really good player.
“He is a great character. He loves the area and his family has a caravan down in Torquay … so I know he really wanted to go to the Cats, and he will be thrilled.
“I think Geelong has got a really good player for a long period of time.”
Brown has kept a close eye on the progress of De Koning since he entered the talent pathway system, seeing him develop from a lean 16-yearold into an intercept marking machine for Dandenong Stingrays.
A sibling to nine brothers and sisters, De Koning has been likened to Brisbane AllAustralian backman and vicecaptain Harris Andrews, and would be seen as an ideal longterm replacement for either of veteran duo Harry Taylor or Tom Hawkins in the coming years.
“He has grown and put on a fair bit of size over the past two years,” Brown said.
“If you look at his physical traits, he matches up really well to Harris Andrews at the same age, so that is probably the comparison as a player down back.
“He kicks the ball well and makes good decisions, but it is his intercept marking and ability to defend at 200cm that stands out.
“But we have seen him go forward and play in the ruck, so … there could be an opportunity at Geelong either upfront, down back or in the ruck if a couple of guys retire in the next year or so.”