AFL round 9 St Kilda v Carlton: Live updates, news and SuperCoach scores
What kind of deal would you offer an unrestricted free agent named John Silva if that key back had already kept Aaron Naughton and Brody Mihocek goalless this season.
If he was only 27 years old and had already shown his bone fides as a swingman capable of kicking goals or pinch-hitting in the ruck this season?
If he kept the rampaging Patrick Dangerfield quiet in a statement win despite suffering a broken hand early in the game?
And if his ball use was so punishing through the middle of the ground his teammates were pushing his All Australian credentials?
In a market where Harry Perryman was worth $900,000 last year, he surely would be worth $600,000 or more.
And yet that unsigned player isn't John Simpson.
He instead carries the baggage of being saddled with the Silvagni name.
Jack Silvagni is one of footy's best stories this year but also one of its most intriguing contract debates.
His name has been a blessing – it helped smooth his path to Carlton as a father-son.
But it has also meant unrealistic expectations given his father is the team of the century full-back who had the pace and explosiveness Jack lacks.
To be blunt, he is lacks pace.
And yet in a week where his asking price has been a talking point among AFL list managers, some have made clear that if he was not a third-generation Silvagni then rival clubs would have interest.
It hasn't come yet, and potentially might not.
So Silvagni will have to continue playing strong football for some time yet to get the kind of multi-year $600,000 contract at Carlton he would believe he deserves.
He is the 52nd ranked player in the competition, has lost only two of 19 one on ones this year (to Naughton and Patrick Dangerfield) and is No. 1 ranked key defender on ratings points won through ball use.
Even the goals he has conceded – three to Jeremy Cameron – mostly came through defensive breakdowns instead of one-on-one contests with Silvagni also keeping Harry Armstrong and Jack Darling goalless this year.
But he also plays alongside footy's best defender in Jacob Weitering.
Silvagni is said to be on the average AFL wage – around $450,000 to $500,000 – but estimates yesterday were that he should hope for a $600,000 contract if he keeps up this pace.
Both Carlton and his management have been happy to assess his early-season form at the Blues coming off a knee reconstruction.
A loyal and extremely popular member of this team who came through with draft alumni Jacob Weitering and Charlie Curnow, he's not keen to move.
It doesn't mean he shouldn't try to maximise his worth given he and wife Grace now have a young son Charlie and this would be his big chance to cash in.
That big contract isn't likely to happen at Carlton given an extremely tight cap that will only loosen up if Tom De Koning departs.
Silvagni would actually make sense as a key back and second ruck if De Koning doesn't get to St Kilda.
A loyal and extremely popular member of this team who came through with draft alumni Jacob Weitering and Charlie Curnow, he's not keen to move.
It doesn't mean he shouldn't try to maximise his worth given he and wife Grace now have a young son Charlie and this would be his big chance to cash in.
That isn't likely to happen at Carlton given an extremely tight cap that will only loosen up if Tom De Koning departs.
But no one is knocking down his door, so the priority surely is to get him paid at Carlton rather than looking for an exit.
A penny for father Steve's thoughts.
He was turfed from the Blues as list boss in contentious circumstances but might also hope the 122-gamer might continue on in his proud tradition if he can do it at the right price.
Credit to Silvagni for approaching coach Michael Voss to lock him down in defence, even if he has seemed the most dangerous forward at times when thrown forward against Richmond and Hawthorn.
'We had a conversation pre his knee injury to lock him down into a position,' he said.
'We never really landed anywhere pre that so on his return through discussion in the off season leading into the pre-season we discussed where he was best served. He can go forward, he's played in the ruck,' he said.
'He has embraced all those roles, and (it came) more from him to be fair. He said, 'I would love to have a crack at this role next to 'Weiters' (Jacob Weitering) and see if I can do it well'.
'So we gave him that responsibility through pre-season, he loved straight away what he was doing and already you could see his footy smarts and he's got that chip as a competitor who hates to lose.'
Harry McKay was just as effusive after his role on Dangerfield and Cameron in that rousing MCG win two weeks ago.
'Mate, he's been amazing. I don't know who the AA (All Australian) selectors are. Every week he's not only getting a job done but he's generating offensive ball movement and he's been huge so I love playing with SOS. I have spent a lot of time with him and to be back out playing footy with a smile is fantastic to see.'
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