Carlton coach Michael Voss has left no stone unturned in attempting to retain star ruckman Tom De Koning as he weighs up his future beyond 2025.
It has been widely documented that St Kilda has come hard for De Koning, offering figures that the Blues cannot match.
However, during Voss' Friday press conference, he detailed all the significant factors that will play a crucial part in the 25-year-old's decision-making process despite the fear of not having re-signed this late in the year.
"I think three years ago, we were sitting in the same situation where he walked in my office, and then signed the next day," Voss said.
"On TDK, he'll make that decision in due course, but I look at what he's provided us and the investment in our team, and I watch how much he loves his teammates, he's grown up at this football club, this is his team.
"He sees himself as that, and when we have our conversations, that's what we talk about. We talk about the team, we talk about how he is going to get better. We talk about what that looks like in the future as well.
"We're more than happy to have those discussions, and all he needs from me is the reinforcement of what he brings to the team for us, and how important he is to us as a player."
De Koning has taken his game to new heights in 2025 as the sole ruckman in Voss' side, which will change for only the second time this year.
The absence of Harry McKay and Hudson O'Keefe has opened the door for a Marc Pittonet return after a stirring run of form in the VFL.
Pittonet - who has only been seen once in 2025 - has averaged 20 disposals, 40 hit-outs, three tackles and two marks in the past three weeks, demanding a senior recall.
"His form is the reason," Voss said.
"Particularly, his last two or three weeks in the VFL, he's stepped up his game.
"There's a couple reasons for (his selection), with Huddo going down, we've got to seek other avenues forward."
Untried forward Harry Lemmey was close to a debut against North Melbourne on Saturday after kicking 15 goals over the last month, including a seven-goal haul against Sydney.
"Very close," Voss added.
"He's one of those players that have had four or five weeks of consistent output. But like I said to Lemmey, your job is to keep knocking the door down and put pressure on us to put the magnet on the board."
The Blues are hopeful spearhead forward Charlie Curnow will play despite being named in the starting 23 as he tends to a calf tightness that limited his output against West Coast last week.
