Sam De Koning: Age, Salary, Position, and Twin Myth

If you follow the AFL, the name De Koning probably rings a bell — twice. But here’s a fact that still catches people off guard: Sam De Koning and Tom De Koning are not twins. Sam, the younger brother playing for Geelong, has carved out his own reputation as a ruckman, and we’re here to separate the myths from the numbers.

Born: 26 February 2001 ·
Height: 200 cm ·
Weight: 85 kg ·
Club: Geelong Football Club ·
Position: Ruckman ·
AFL Debut: 2021

Let’s line up the core facts in one table.

Are Tom and Sam De Koning twins?

It’s the most common question around the De Koning name. Tom and Sam both play AFL, both stand over 200 cm, and both dominate as ruckmen. But the twin idea is a myth.

Tom De Koning: The older brother

• Born 1999 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
• Plays for Carlton Football Club
• Drafted in 2017

Sam De Koning: The younger sibling

• Born 26 February 2001 (Geelong Cats (official club site))
• Plays for Geelong Football Club
• Drafted in 2019

Age difference and birth years

Tom was born in 1999, Sam in 2001 — a two-year gap that rules out twin status. The misconception likely stems from their shared surname, towering height, and similar playing style. The Fox Sports (Australian sports news outlet) report on their 2024 ruck battle highlighted the sibling dynamic but never suggested twinship.

The implication: when you see the De Koning name on the teamsheet, look at the jumper — Geelong means Sam, Carlton means Tom.

What is Sam De Koning’s position?

Primary role as ruckman

Sam De Koning is listed as a ruckman for Geelong. According to Geelong Cats (official club site), he was reinstated as the starting ruckman early in the 2023 season and has held the role through 2024 and 2025.

Occasional forward duties

At 200 cm, he offers a marking target up forward. In a 2024 match against Carlton, he kicked a rare goal and recorded 20 disposals, 16 contested possessions and four clearances (Fox Sports (Australian sports news outlet)).

Jumper number

Sam De Koning’s jumper number is not publicly confirmed from any official source. Unlike many players whose numbers are listed on club profiles, Geelong’s site does not display it. This remains a gap in publicly available information.

The pattern: Sam is a pure ruckman first, with forward flexibility as a secondary weapon. His jumper number, however, remains a mystery.

How old is Sam De Koning?

Birth date and age

Sam De Koning was born on 26 February 2001 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)). As of 2024, he is 23 years old.

Age compared to Tom De Koning

Tom De Koning was born in 1999, making Sam two years younger (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).

Debut age

Sam made his AFL debut in 2021 at age 20 (FootyInfo (statistics aggregator)).

Why this matters: at 23, Sam is entering his prime development window for a ruckman. His brother Tom, at 25, is slightly ahead in experience, but Sam’s trajectory shows steady improvement in disposals and contested possessions.

What is Sam De Koning’s salary?

Public salary information

No official salary figure is publicly available for Sam De Koning. AFL player salaries are generally published only for top earners; most remain confidential (FootyInfo (statistics aggregator)).

AFL salary cap and rookie contracts

As a rookie selection in the 2019 draft, Sam’s initial contract would have been a standard AFL rookie deal. Current estimates for mid-tier players suggest a range of $200,000–$400,000 per year, but this is speculative.

Comparison with Tom De Koning’s salary

Tom De Koning’s salary is similarly undisclosed. Drafted earlier (2017) and with more senior games, Tom likely earns at the higher end of the scale, but no verified figures exist.

The trade-off: without public salary data, any comparison is guesswork. Fans should treat reported figures as unconfirmed.

Has Sam De Koning had any injuries?

Injury history from available sources

No significant injuries are reported in the top search results. Sam De Koning has played consistent games since his debut in 2021 (FootyInfo (statistics aggregator)).

Games missed due to injury

Stat sources show no extended absences. In 2023 he played 19 games, in 2024 another 19, and in 2025 a full 23 games (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).

Current fitness status

The Geelong club has not listed him as injured in recent seasons. His consecutive game streak suggests good durability.

The catch: the lack of injury history is good news, but it also means there’s no data on how he recovers from a major setback. Geelong will hope to keep him on the park.

Sam De Koning vs Tom De Koning: A comparison

Three ruckmen, two clubs, one family. Here’s how the brothers stack up.

The implication: Sam is still building his career resume, while Tom’s extra years in the system show in his size and experience. The gap between them narrows each season.

Timeline: Sam De Koning’s career

• 26 February 2001 – Born in Australia
• 2019 – Drafted by Geelong (Pick 19) (Geelong Cats (official club site))
• 2021 – AFL debut for Geelong (FootyInfo (statistics aggregator))
• 2023 – Reinstated as starting ruckman (Geelong Cats (official club site))
• 2024 – 20-disposal game against Carlton, including a goal (Fox Sports (Australian sports news outlet))
• 2025 – Played 23 games, averaged 13.4 disposals (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))

The pattern: steady progression from draft to starting ruckman, with each season adding more games and responsibility.

Clarity check: What we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

• Birth date: 26 February 2001
• Height: 200 cm, Weight: 85 kg
• Club: Geelong
• Brother: Tom De Koning

What’s unclear

• Salary figure – not publicly disclosed
• Jumper number – not confirmed by official sources
• Detailed injury history – no verified records
• Exact draft pick number – some sources differ
• AFL debut year – 2021 is widely cited but not universally verified
• Twin status – no official source confirms or denies; conclusion drawn from age difference

Quotes from the record

“De Koning was reinstated as Geelong’s starting ruckman early in the season, spending the first three weeks as the primary big man in the middle and impressing.”

— Geelong Cats (official club site)

“Sam De Koning (born 26 February 2001) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League.”

— Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)

Sam De Koning’s Instagram account (@sam.dekoning) has 35.8k followers, providing a personal glimpse into his life off the field (Instagram (social media platform)).

Sam De Koning has built a solid foundation as Geelong’s ruckman. His career totals, according to FootyInfo (statistics aggregator), stand at 99 games and 8 goals, while OzFootball (AFL statistics archive) lists 85 games and 7 goals — a discrepancy that highlights the need for a single authoritative stats source. For Geelong fans, the takeaway is clear: Sam De Koning is a developing ruckman with a solid trajectory, but his injury history remains a question mark. The club will need to manage his workload carefully to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued other young big men.

Related reading: Harley Reid: Salary, Relationship, Fines and Net Worth

For a deeper look at Sam De Konings salary and injury history, including his 2025 contract figures and recent injury updates, this profile covers all the key details.

Frequently asked questions