CARLTON has locked away another key piece of its future, with talented youngster Tom De Koning signing a contract extension that will keep him at the club for at least the next three seasons.
The highly rated De Koning, who was already contracted through until the end of next year, has penned a further two-year extension that will ensure he remains with the Blues until at least 2023.
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Earmarked as the long-term replacement for the recently retired Matthew Kreuzer in the ruck, the deal rewards the 21-year-old for a breakout season in which he played seven of the club's final eight matches.
Praised for his athleticism and his leaping ability from either foot, De Koning was identified by club recruiter Paul Brodie while with the Dandenong Stingrays and was selected to the Blues with pick No.30 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft.
Having impressed across his first nine senior games for the club, De Koning has subsequently become the fourth Carlton player to extend his future at Ikon Park before entering a contract year in 2021.
Sam Docherty and Zac Fisher were also due to come out of contract next season, but have both already signed extensions through until 2023, while Jacob Weitering also inked a long-term deal that will guarantee his future until 2025.
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The spate of early re-signings come at an important time for the Blues, with a host of other key players – including superstar co-captain Patrick Cripps, gun key forward Harry McKay and fellow first-round picks Sam Petrevski-Seton, Lochie O'Brien and Brodie Kemp – all set to come out of contract next season.
