Recognising they cannot match the massive amount offered by St Kilda, Carlton have made a pitch to free agent Tom De Koning that emphasises the value of playing for the Blues beyond his playing days.
The Blues, whose offer of slightly more than $1 million a season to De Koning is expected to fall $600,000 or more short of St Kilda’s estimated $1.7 million, have made a pitch that includes the value of Carlton’s business relationships and the club brand, along with the fact that he is settled and performing so well at the Blues.
Tm De Koning has a big decision to make.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Industry sources, familiar with the outline of Carlton’s pitch to De Koning and speaking freely only off-record, said that the Blues could not increase the offer much, but were selling the ruckman on the value of sticking with Carlton to his future after football.
The club knows it cannot compete with the Saints on the pure value of the contract – even if it found a way to increase its offer, it would not come close to the St Kilda offer over seven years.
De Koning went to the major Carlton In Business network lunch, attended by about 1000 guests, at Crown Casino last week. This was the third occasion that the ruckman has attended one of these functions, which were established by the Blues, who now believe they have the strongest business network of any club, and what they also reckon is a point of difference to rivals.
But the Blues have not deployed senior players either in their push to keep De Koning, allowing him to make his own decision on his future.
The term of the contract is not the issue – Carlton and the Saints would match one another’s term. Rather, it is the size of the remuneration gap in the offers that has made it harder for the Blues.
Over seven years, the gap between the offers would exceed $3 million, unless Carlton is willing to significantly increase their offer.
Unlike the Saints, who have hardly any players earning $1 million per season, the Blues have five others who are either paid more than seven figures or near that mark – skipper Patrick Cripps, key forwards Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, key defender Jacob Weitering and midfield star Sam Walsh.
The Blues are also cognisant that the Saints, too, can sell a vision in which De Koning reaps the benefits of playing for their club beyond his playing days.
Carlton’s pitch has been led by list manager Nick Austin, football boss Brad Lloyd and more recently, chief executive in waiting Graham Wright, with some input from current CEO Brian Cook. New president Rob Priestley, who is chairman of JP Morgan and a heavy-hitter in finance, has been kept in the loop but has not been hands-on in the pitch to the free agent.
Carlton’s inconsistency on the field this season has arguably undermined what would be the easiest selling point to De Koning – the perception that the Blues have the more talented playing list with a greater prospect of contending or winning flags over the remainder of his career.
Cook would not elaborate on the pitch from Carlton, except to say that it was “driven by management” at the club. “And we’re hoping he decides to stay.”
De Koning’s choice is one of the biggest free agent decisions of this season, and is certain to be a focus this Friday night when the clubs vying for his services meet at the MCG in what is a massive game for Carlton, in particular, who risk falling to a record of three wins and six losses if they lose.
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