Young Cat’s “hectic” diet program to gain weight

A LIGHTLY framed Sam De Koning arrived at Geelong weighing eighty-five kilograms.

De Koning, selected with pick number 19 in the 2019 National Draft, now weighs in at around 100 kilograms.

The 21-year-old defender said his drastic body transformation is down to a “hectic” diet program, consuming up to six meals a day, even eating until he was sick at times.

Standing at 204 centimetres tall, De Koning is having a breakout season, averaging seven intercepts and a tick under five marks a game.

“It’s a blessing and a curse that I was born with a good metabolism because my diet is basically to try and eat as much food, but obviously good food, as I can,” De Koning told Sportsday.

“Throughout my experience in the hub in 2020 and also the short finals one in Perth in 2021, it was about trying to get as much food in as I can and throughout pre-season – sometimes I’m eating until I’m sick.

“It’s definitely hard and you have to commit yourself. It’s around five or six meals a day. It’s pretty hectic.

“It can be a bit boring having rice and pasta and steak and chicken all the time, so it’s about trying to find variety and getting yourself up to make meals and preparing meals and staying professional.

“Because the goal is to play AFL and if that means putting on weight then that’s what you have to do.

“I peaked throughout this pre-season at 103, but I think that was a little too heavy.

“At the moment, I’m sitting at around 100 and I’ve put on around 15 kilos throughout my time in the AFL.”

De Koning received a Rising Star nomination after finishing with 19 disposals, 11 intercept possessions and nine marks in Geelong’s win over Adelaide in Round 11.

– BY ALEX ZAIA/ SEN