McRae's had a ‘first date' with Jack Silvagni. Now he wants a second
'If I was coaching anywhere in the competition, Jack Silvagni would be a player I would love to have on my list,' Buckley said on SEN Mornings.
'He's had a horrendous run with injuries in the last three or four years [but] he is going to play his best footy in the next five seasons.
'If I'm Carlton I would have been doing everything I could to not lose him, but it seems like that, for whatever reason – where the club has been, how he has been managed potentially – he has decided to look over the fence.
'He would not have had to look far to find suitors.
'I think it's a really shrewd approach by Collingwood because he will really help them in the next few years.'
Buckley added that Silvagni was a player any club would want.
'He is everything Carlton have needed in the last couple of years. You could put him in any role on the field and he will find a way.
Loading
'He's not fast but he's a massive competitor – he is strong in the contest, he never gives in and he's got leadership.
'You could not have enough Jack Silvagnis on your list. He will be a massive loss for Carlton and a massive get for any other club that could get him.'
The Magpies expect Scott Pendlebury will be fit for Saturday night's top-of-the-ladder with the Brisbane Lions at the MCG. He was a late withdrawal last round after struggling with a corked muscle.
Dan McStay has been training as a defender while Billy Frampton is in contention to return, with Jeremy Howe still injured.
Skipper Darcy Moore (back) didn't train on Wednesday, but McRae said he 'should be fine' to face the reigning premiers on Saturday, while Scott Pendlebury is set to return.
Collingwood are weighing up whether to bring back Bobby Hill, who kicked three goals in the VFL on his return from personal leave, and Jordan De Goey, who had 19 disposals on limited minutes.
'In the ideal world, they probably do both need a little bit more [match time under their belts],' McRae said.
'But we just weigh up what the team needs this week, and then what's best for those guys longer-term.
'Are they fit and available to perform at a level that we'd like this week?'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
9 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Emerging forward joins Buddy Franklin in epic 19yr first as Lions outclass Collingwood
A potent Brisbane outfit has shot the lights out against Collingwood in an MCG epic on Saturday night, defeating the 2023 premiers by 27 points. The Lions led at every interval in the Round 21 blockbuster, returning serve on the Magpies' second-term surge to win 14.8 (92) over the home side's 10.5 (65). FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Second-year emerging star Logan Morris bagged a career-high six goals in the clash, with three in each half pulverising the Collingwood defence all night long to suddenly resurrect their hopes of a double chance this upcoming finals series. Morris' career-best is the first time that any Lions player has kicked half a dozen goals in a game at the 'G since Jonathan Brown all the way back in Round 19, 2007. Additionally, he's the youngest player since Lance Franklin in 2006 to kick six at the 'Sporting Colosseum'. The Pies threatened a final-term comeback through super sub Bobby Hill in his return to AFL football, but it was star Zac Bailey who sealed the game's fate with just over three-and a-half-minutes to play. For Collingwood, Nick Daicos was monumental in the first half with 17 disposals, four inside 50s, two goal assists and a major before the main break, but slowed down as the Lions took control once more. Inclusions Jordan de Goey (tactically subbed in third quarter) and Bobby Hill (starting substitute) importantly looked to get through the match unscathed. Brisbane key defender Ryan Lester was unfortunately not as lucky, and was subbed out with concussion before quarter time. '(That was) definitely one of the better wins I've been involved with since I've been at the club,' Lions premiership coach Chris Fagan told Fox Footy's Super Saturday Live post-game. 'I loved the way we attacked the game tonight, we played bold footy ... every time that they came at us, we were able to respond and stay steady.' Logan Morris was the front man, and Henry Smith was his unlikely companion, combining for nine goals. Morris kicked two goals in the opening quarter and could have had a third; threatening in the early stages. Then it was Smith's turn to assert himself as a key-position target ahead of the ball, booting his first and second career goals in the space of just over three minutes. Hugh McCluggage was the one for Brisbane orchestrating the side's threatening forward chains, recording three score involvements with nine disposals and two clearances in the first term. 'McCluggage has been outstanding in this first quarter. He's had a year and a half. I tell you what, if he's not All-Australian this year, you would be horribly surprised,' Lyon said on quarter-time. The Lions capitalised with three goals from turnover to Collingwood's none in the opening 30 minutes — but their defence suffered a key blow. Reliable stopper Ryan Lester was subbed out of the game early in the second quarter with concussion, as Bruce Reville entered the action earlier than anticipated. 'It was late in the third quarter, he went up into a marking contest and he just copped a little bit of a stray elbow from (Dan) McStay,' Geelong great Cameron Mooney reported from the boundary line. 'It really looks like there wasn't much in it, but it was enough obviously for the Brisbane Lions to make sure that he wasn't going to come back on.' Meanwhile, incredibly, Smith kicked his third goal of the night — again a dead-straight set shot — halfway through the second term, presenting as an unlikely sparkplug for the raring Lions. Henry Smith gets his first goal in the AFL and is swamped by his teammates ðŸ'� ðŸ'° Watch #AFLPiesLions on Ch.504 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 2, 2025 'This is an amazing win,' Dunstall said of Smith's eye-opening return in just his fifth career AFL game and first of this season. But the Lions then had to withstand the Pies' pressure, which went up a notch from halfway through the second quarter, as the visitors' ball movement game stalled at the hands of the league's stingiest defence. 'Coming out of the back half now, the pressure is great (from Collingwood), I understand that. But they've got to find a way to use the ball short, break it up, and try and get some run back through the corridor. Banging it long to Cameron, Moore, whoever else, isn't working,' Lyon said. It was a five-goal-to-two second stanza from the Pies, who narrowed Brisbane's lead to one single point at the main change. Zac Bailey bends it through to seal a big victory for the Lions ðŸ'Š ðŸ'° Watch #AFLPiesLions on Ch.504 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 2, 2025 Triple Richmond premiership star Jack Riewoldt sang the praises of Brisbane's emerging duo. 'They've been held together by a couple of young key forwards; Logan Morris and Henry Smith have both kicked three to throw the Collingwood backline a few curveballs,' he said. Morris booted his fourth and fifth goals of the evening early in the third, both with snaps. For the third time this season, Morris had five majors to his name. It was a four-goal-to-one premiership quarter by the Lions, who took a handy 19-point lead into the final change. 'A lot of talk has been about 'do the Lions miss Joe Daniher?' Well, young Logan Morris said 'hold my drinks, everybody, I've just snagged five at three-quarter-time',' Mooney said at three-quarter-time. 'One or two more, and this man might drag his team over the line.' It'd been an 18-year wait for another Brisbane Lions player to kick six goals on the MCG since 2007 when Brown did it — but cometh the moment, cometh the Morris. The 38-gamer snapped home his sixth, on his left foot, at the 13-minute mark to extend the Lions' buffer to a game-high 27-point lead. Lachie Neale and McCluggage wound up combining for a whopping 70 disposals, 19 clearances and 12 score involvements.
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
Why the Voss call is easier for Carlton than the Goodwin call for Melbourne
They have gun players who've either flirted with the idea of leaving (Charlie Curnow) or made plain their unhappiness and wish to get out (Christian Petracca). In Oliver's case, it was the club that first raised the prospect of trading him, only to baulk when he was ready to join Geelong; it is a non-deal that the Demons should regret. Despite the shared problems and superficially similar situations, there's a clear difference in the nature of the coach calls that Carlton and Melbourne confront. Carlton are in a better position to judge Voss – and to remove him, if that's deemed necessary – even though he's only in his fourth season with the Blues. How so? The Blues have had their new CEO in the building for the entire 2025 season, even though Wright has been the understudy – the dauphin, if you like – to exiting chief executive Brian Cook. Their president, Rob Priestley, assumed the role early this year ahead of schedule following the scandal that saw off his predecessor Luke Sayers. Priestley, the chairman of J.P. Morgan, had been tapped as Sayers' successor for some time, and is more than familiar with the football department's workings and worries. Loading The Demons, conversely, have had only an interim CEO this year, David Chippindall, and the new CEO Paul Guerra won't be installed until next month. The presidency, too, is in transition. Brad Green holds the role now, but is slated to hand over to a former player (and lawyer) from an earlier generation, ex-MCC chairman Steven Smith, later this year. Carlton's shot callers – Wright, in particular – have had a front-row seat to observe Voss during 2025. Further, Wright's had a full season to assess the playing list, list management, high performance and culture. Oh, and a detailed understanding of their salary cap and contracts (another unfortunate parallel – the Blues and Dees have paid a huge amount to stars, and have accordingly tight player payments). Guerra, when he arrives, will be on a steeper learning curve than health ministers during COVID. Unlike Wright, he is not a football expert, and will have to defer to the judgment of others, such as Smith, Green and ex-All Blacks manager Darren Shand, who did the recent review of the Demons' football operations. Carlton have the more stable leadership. Their CEO, board and president have been in place and should know the score. This column is not venturing a view on whether Voss should be sacked. Not now. The point is that the Blues have a better vantage to judge their coach's suitability than Melbourne, despite Goodwin's nine years in the job. It is debatable which of these coaches has encountered more turbulence, if you count matters such as supporter unrest (Goodwin grateful for added security at Marvel Stadium on Saturday), and frenzied media intrusion – Carlton, as the bigger prey, will always draw heavier fire. Goodwin, however, has had more obstacles in his path when factoring in board instability, the questions over player behaviour – dating back to the Entrecote dust-up and peaking around the drug suspension of Joel Smith – and the separate but equally damaging circuses around Petracca and Oliver. Loading Did Goodwin's methods or management contribute to these problems that made his coaching life difficult after 2022? Possibly. But there were also factors outside his domain, which made it harder to have a singular focus on coaching. Goodwin appeared to have done enough mid-season, on the back of a victory at the Gabba, to hold his position next year, as I suggested. Results since, 'have not necessarily been to [his] advantage', to borrow from the Japanese emperor Hirohito's surrender speech. The Demons have gone south. Voss' curse has been injury, both in 2024 and this year. This must be considered when judgment day comes. The Wright call, however, will be predicated on whether the coach has the right stuff for 2026 and beyond. Most crucial to Carlton and Melbourne's self-examinations will be their understanding of their position – ie, if they are undertaking mini-rebuilds or refreshing of their lists (the Demons have put their toe in those waters already), or if either believe they can re-jig, find some mature players from rivals and scale the mountain quickly. The Blues are committed to father-son Harry Dean and to Andrew Walker's gun son Cody, and will regain Jagga Smith, a top-three pick in 2024, over the next two post-seasons. This necessarily gives them signposts for the future. How quickly can those kids come on alongside Curnow, Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh? Knowing precisely where you're situated in the premiership cycle is paramount. Once you're sorted on that front, the calls on players, coaches and recruiting follow.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why the Voss call is easier for Carlton than the Goodwin call for Melbourne
They have gun players who've either flirted with the idea of leaving (Charlie Curnow) or made plain their unhappiness and wish to get out (Christian Petracca). In Oliver's case, it was the club that first raised the prospect of trading him, only to baulk when he was ready to join Geelong; it is a non-deal that the Demons should regret. Despite the shared problems and superficially similar situations, there's a clear difference in the nature of the coach calls that Carlton and Melbourne confront. Carlton are in a better position to judge Voss – and to remove him, if that's deemed necessary – even though he's only in his fourth season with the Blues. How so? The Blues have had their new CEO in the building for the entire 2025 season, even though Wright has been the understudy – the dauphin, if you like – to exiting chief executive Brian Cook. Their president, Rob Priestley, assumed the role early this year ahead of schedule following the scandal that saw off his predecessor Luke Sayers. Priestley, the chairman of J.P. Morgan, had been tapped as Sayers' successor for some time, and is more than familiar with the football department's workings and worries. Loading The Demons, conversely, have had only an interim CEO this year, David Chippindall, and the new CEO Paul Guerra won't be installed until next month. The presidency, too, is in transition. Brad Green holds the role now, but is slated to hand over to a former player (and lawyer) from an earlier generation, ex-MCC chairman Steven Smith, later this year. Carlton's shot callers – Wright, in particular – have had a front-row seat to observe Voss during 2025. Further, Wright's had a full season to assess the playing list, list management, high performance and culture. Oh, and a detailed understanding of their salary cap and contracts (another unfortunate parallel – the Blues and Dees have paid a huge amount to stars, and have accordingly tight player payments). Guerra, when he arrives, will be on a steeper learning curve than health ministers during COVID. Unlike Wright, he is not a football expert, and will have to defer to the judgment of others, such as Smith, Green and ex-All Blacks manager Darren Shand, who did the recent review of the Demons' football operations. Carlton have the more stable leadership. Their CEO, board and president have been in place and should know the score. This column is not venturing a view on whether Voss should be sacked. Not now. The point is that the Blues have a better vantage to judge their coach's suitability than Melbourne, despite Goodwin's nine years in the job. It is debatable which of these coaches has encountered more turbulence, if you count matters such as supporter unrest (Goodwin grateful for added security at Marvel Stadium on Saturday), and frenzied media intrusion – Carlton, as the bigger prey, will always draw heavier fire. Goodwin, however, has had more obstacles in his path when factoring in board instability, the questions over player behaviour – dating back to the Entrecote dust-up and peaking around the drug suspension of Joel Smith – and the separate but equally damaging circuses around Petracca and Oliver. Loading Did Goodwin's methods or management contribute to these problems that made his coaching life difficult after 2022? Possibly. But there were also factors outside his domain, which made it harder to have a singular focus on coaching. Goodwin appeared to have done enough mid-season, on the back of a victory at the Gabba, to hold his position next year, as I suggested. Results since, 'have not necessarily been to [his] advantage', to borrow from the Japanese emperor Hirohito's surrender speech. The Demons have gone south. Voss' curse has been injury, both in 2024 and this year. This must be considered when judgment day comes. The Wright call, however, will be predicated on whether the coach has the right stuff for 2026 and beyond. Most crucial to Carlton and Melbourne's self-examinations will be their understanding of their position – ie, if they are undertaking mini-rebuilds or refreshing of their lists (the Demons have put their toe in those waters already), or if either believe they can re-jig, find some mature players from rivals and scale the mountain quickly. The Blues are committed to father-son Harry Dean and to Andrew Walker's gun son Cody, and will regain Jagga Smith, a top-three pick in 2024, over the next two post-seasons. This necessarily gives them signposts for the future. How quickly can those kids come on alongside Curnow, Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh? Knowing precisely where you're situated in the premiership cycle is paramount. Once you're sorted on that front, the calls on players, coaches and recruiting follow.
