An AFL great says Tom De Koning “hasn’t done anything of great note” to earn the pay packet he’s about to receive at St Kilda.

De Koning on Wednesday confirmed his intentions to depart Carlton, his club of eight years, for the Saints this off-season as a restricted free agent.

The 26-year-old, who called leaving the Blues “the toughest decision I have ever had to make”, is expected to put pen to paper on a lucrative eight-year deal worth approximately $1.7 million per season.

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As a result of the contract value and De Koning’s age, Carlton is set to benefit from top draft compensation.

And while he won’t “begrudge” De Koning for getting the best deal possible, former Demons captain Garry Lyon scrutinised the eye-watering sum from a St Kilda perspective.

“Let me say up front, I don’t begrudge anyone getting as much money as they can in whatever field they’re in, and we’re talking footy here, so good on you, Tom, well done and good luck,” Lyon began on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday night.

“Now, I’m looking at it from a St Kilda point of view, and when it’s this much money, Gerard, I need to have no question about it working. That’s where I sit with it.

“Oh, Nasiah (Wanganeen-Milera)’s signed for $2 million? You go ‘phew — big money — but yeah, I get it’ … if it was Zak Butters for $1.7-1.8 million, you go ‘oh, yeah, I get it’.

“I’ve got a question over whether … I know you’ve got to pay overs, I know you’ve got to get him in, but the question revolves around just how good he is.”

Lyon added that the sort of money De Koning is about to be paid at Moorabbin indicates he’s “got to be great”.

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“He’s never kicked more than nine goals in a season, he averages just under three marks a game and 12 or 13 possessions. And he hasn’t done anything of great note to earn that money,” Lyon said on Fox Footy.

“Again, please, I’m not having a crack at Tom. Good luck to you, I hope you get to where you need to be, but with that sort of money … can’t see it (with De Koning).”

Co-host Gerard Whateley said the “comparison piece” was Melbourne stalwart Max Gawn, and that De Koning had to play to a similar level to Gawn over the lifetime of his contract for it to prove worthwhile for the club.

The soon-to-be Saints ruckman is eight years into his AFL career and has played 100 games, while Gawn at the same point in his career had played 99.

Tom De Koning is on his way to St Kilda.Source: Getty Images

But Gawn, by that point, had already won a best and fairest award and finished third in another, was a two-time All-Australian, and had won a Coaches’ Player of the Year award. Meanwhile, to this point, De Koning’s best finish in a best and fairest count is seventh.

“De Koning hasn’t shown any signs that he’s going to be Max Gawn,” Whateley said.

“I hope he is, I hope he’s the next great ruckman of the competition, but after eight years, they’re not even close. They’re not in the same ballpark.”

Lyon replied: “That is falling into line with what I’m saying — $1.8 million for Max Gawn, after what he’d done at that stage, yeah, I can see it.”

Lyon also questioned De Koning’s impending fit next to Rowan Marshall, who was an All-Australian squad member and third-place best-and-fairest finisher in 2023.

“The other question for me is where does it leave Marshall? That’s the other thing,” he said.

“You’ve already got a ruckman just sitting there, and he’s a pretty good player. So, good luck with all that and working all that out.”