Tom De Koning has marked his 100th and potentially final AFL game for Carlton with a win over Essendon as he plots his next moves — first to Bali, then to St Kilda?

The 26-year-old kicked the last point of the Blues’ 13.12 (90) to 8.8 (56) victory at the MCG on Thursday night, with both teams glad to reach the end of horror seasons for different reasons.

Carlton will now move forward with a busy trade period after backing in Michael Voss as their senior coach for 2026.

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De Koning’s decision on taking up a monster offer to join the Saints looms large, skipper Patrick Cripps already speaking as if he knows what’s coming.

“He’s a competitor, we love playing with him, you couldn’t question the way he rocked up this year or ever,” Cripps told Fox Sports.

“To play 100 games for any club is special, he gets the name on the locker and he’s going to go down as a 100-game Carlton player forever.”

De Koning, who looked to be holding back tears as he started his post-match interview, said he had mixed emotions at the end of a “disappointing” season without finals.

“This week will be huge with obviously the decision,” he said of what comes next.

“Looking forward to getting to Bali and getting a surf in and clearing the head after a big year.”

It was all smiles in the Carlton rooms after the game as president Robert Priestley presented De Koning with a memento to mark his 100th game.

“Thanks for all the good times over the past eight years,” De Koning said in his speech.

“Obviously a disappointing year but yeah, keep going and doing good things. All the best.”

De Koning is set to depart alongside son-of-a-gun Jack Silvagni, with the Blues resigned to losing the defender to Collingwood or the Bulldogs.

Thursday night’s low-key affair also marked Essendon captain Zach Merrett’s 250th game, with the Bombers unable to lift despite periods where they looked capable of causing a boilover.

It was the injury-hit side’s 12th straight loss and they still need to head north to face Gold Coast for the last game of the home-and-away season on Wednesday night.

Veteran Dylan Shiel was prolific, without having a huge influence, in what could be one of his last AFL games.

It is understood Shiel has not been offered a contract with the Bombers for next year, but the former GWS flyer could explore his options to play elsewhere.

Carlton were led superbly by George Hewett’s 25 disposals and eight clearances in the first half.

Sam Walsh starred in his second game back from a long absence due to a foot injury, gathering 28 disposals before being subbed out at three-quarter time.

Small forward Francis Evans continued his stunning four-week patch with three goals in what could earn him a new contract at Carlton.

At his third club after earning a rookie contract earlier this year, Evans has booted 11 goals in his last four games and is starting to look comfortable at AFL level.

- with AAP