Leaping to Cats’ defence
Stewart loss not decisive
We like to play a good, honest defence Sam De Koning
Geelong’s Sam De Koning believes an “honest” Cats defence can cover a potent Carlton attack in the absence of star defender Tom Stewart.
The Cats, who are on a sixgame winning streak and the only undefeated side left in the AFL, face an in-form Carlton side without five-time All Australian Stewart after he came off with concussion in their round 6 win against Brisbane on Saturday night.
De Koning, who will play his 50th game against the top-four side, is among a Cats defence that ranks first for points conceded.
But they will face one of their biggest tests keeping quiet the Blues’ two-pronged attack in two-time Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, who have combined for 36 goals in six games, at the MCG. Not having Stewart’s intercepting threat and leadership will leave a void.
“Seeing Tom at the club, he’s on track but will miss this week,” De Koning said.
“He leaves a bit of a hole but it’s nothing I don’t think we can’t fill with just good coaching, a good game plan and players that are willing to step up and work for each other.
“We like to play a good, honest defence and if we come off and take intercept marks then that’s great but we’ve got some good players down back who can do so.”
The 23-year-old’s milestone match will come on the biggest stage at the MCG and against older brother and Blues key position player Tom, though the brothers remain “chill” about the impending contest.
“He’s coming down to Torquay, I think he wants to go for a surf,” De Koning said. He’s my brother and we’ll try and play our role for our teams.”
After winning a premiership in game 24, De Koning said there was still a lot more for him to achieve as he enjoys an early run of consistency this year after missing four of the first 10 games in 2023 to injury.
“I came in and started playing and was pretty successful early but I’m still a young player and still trying to develop and work on my game,” he said.
“There are a lot of areas that I need to improve on and want to improve to take my game to the next level.
“Still trying to make my way through the league and cement my spot in the team. I’ll take it one game at a time.”
De Koning said he was treating his 50th as any other game and joked it paled in comparison to the Cats’ recent milestones of Tom Hawkins (350), Mark Blicavs (250) and Rhys Stanley (200).
“We love playing them (milestone games) as a club,” he said. “It’s such an honour to be playing for Geelong. To be able to play 50 doing what I love, it’s pretty special.”