St Kilda's prized recruit of the 2025 off-season, Tom De Koning, will reportedly face a delayed start to his 2026 pre-season with the Saints after suffering a calf strain.
According to 7News' Mitch Cleary, De Koning will be restricted to an individual program in the pre-Christmas training block and won't integrate with the full program on his arrival to RSEA Park on Monday.
Cleary stated that the Saints are planning to "extra cautious" with the star ruckman's injury, given the precarious nature of calf strains and the lengthy wait until St Kilda's Opening Round clash against Collingwood on March 8.
De Koning joined St Kilda as a restricted free agent in the 2025 Trade and Free Agency Period, with the Blues opting not to match the Moorabbin-based club's mega offer for the 26-year-old.
Tom De Koning faces a delayed start to his first pre-season at St Kilda @7NewsMelbourne @7AFL https://t.co/4NE61oReQC pic.twitter.com/8icnl9M2LT
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) November 22, 2025
De Koning played in 100 games for the Blues in his eight-year tenure at Ikon Park and averaged a career-high 17.3 disposals and 23.3 hitouts per game in 2025 and will look to continue elevating his play next to fellow star ruck Rowan Marshall for the Saints.
More to come...
