Latest news with #Collingwood
Herald Sun
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Inside story of Jack Silvagni's possible move to Collingwood
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Carlton fans are like a punch drunk boxer, they literally can't take anymore punishment yet another thundering right hook hits them in the face in the form of Jack Silvagni potentially playing with Collingwood. After asking each other, what else could possibly go wrong in 2025? The next question is, how did it come to this? What must first be put to bed is there is no angst at all from Silvagni towards the Blues, coach Michael Voss or any of his teammates. He loves the place, always has and always will. But Silvagni is a free agent and in the AFL world we now live in, this is what happens when you earn that tag. Rival clubs suddenly take a lot more attention and when they see an opening, they strike. That opening has been the 27-year-old's emergence as a legitimate tall defender who for a period earlier in the season was rated one of the best in the competition before injury struck. Collingwood have become elite in picking off free-agents from other clubs. They're in the premiership window, are the biggest club in town and have a coach who is all about contending every year. So for a second take away the Silvagni name from this equation. Player Jack has battled to find a permanent position over his 10 years at Carlton, he's been in and out of the side under various coaches, thrown around in multiple positions and had to fight tooth and nail to get to 128 games. Every time his contract has been up, Player Jack has had to wait until August or September to get another one. And always only ever two-year deals rather than a big show of faith. It meant there was always a seed of doubt in his mind about his future and seemingly he was continually having to prove his worth to new coaches. He started as a forward early in his career under Brendon Bolton before falling out of favour at the start of 2019. He was left in purgatory until Bolton was sacked and David Teague came in as a replacement. Some good games near the end of the season saw the Blues offer another two-year deal. He kicked the most goals in a season of his career in Voss' first year of 2022 but then wasn't picked for the Blues thrilling preliminary final run the following year. Then in January 2024 he blew out his knee at training and missed the entire season. So Player Jack entered 2025 wondering where he sat in things. He'd never quite made it as a third tall forward, had shown courage as a back-up ruckman but that has a limited lifespan so Voss shuffled the magnets and gave him a crack in defence, a position familiar with the family name (more about that later). Player Jack shone with the opportunity before a groin injury interrupted things. Arch rival Collingwood was impressed and with an ageing list, they saw an opening and thrust a four-year deal in front of Player Jack. He'd never seen these sorts of numbers, both in longevity and the dollars, before in his life. It's only human nature to have your head turned when such love comes your way. Then when premiership coach Craig McRae calls for a chat, the love meter goes up another level. While this is going on your team is going from bad to worse. There are rumblings about the coach being sacked, there is a new CEO coming in and everyone at Ikon Park has no idea if they'll have a job next year. Now insert the surname again. His family history goes back three generations from his grandfather Serge who captained the Blues to his father, Stephen, a premiership winning defender in the navy blue and AFL Team of the Century full-back. This is where the external noise comes into the scenario. His father no longer has anything to do with the Blues, he didn't turn up to the 1995 premiership reunion this year and when Jack played his 100th game SOS stayed in the car rather than be a part of the jumper presentation. He now works at St Kilda after being sacked as Carlton's list manager in 2019 and doesn't hide his disdain for the club and his replacement, Nick Austin, who is currently fighting to keep his job. So would SOS be upset if Austin dropped the ball and had an entire supporter group outraged that the last line of the famous Silvagni name was leaving for arch-rival Collingwood? Of course not. It's naive to think Jack doesn't feel his father's disappointment with the Blues but he's now a father himself and this is a call about his own family's future. While new CEO Graham Wright felt the need to ring Silvagni this week to point out how much he was a valued person at Carlton, the reality is it's a heart v head scenario. And if it was Player Jack, history says we know what the result would be … a few extra smiles at the Silvagni family Christmas dinner. Originally published as How did it come to this? The Blues faltered so the Pies are set to swoop on SOS
ABC News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Collingwood coach Craig McRae confirms 'first date' with Jack Silvagni as Blues star considers switch
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has met with Jack Silvagni as Carlton's favourite son moves closer to a once-unthinkable switch to the Blues' fiercest rivals. Silvagni, who is a third-generation Carlton player, appears likely to leave the Blues as a free agent at the end of the season, with the Magpies leading the race after their coach's "first date" with the defender. Asked if he had met with Silvagni, McRae said: "Yeah I did. And I'm confident to say we'll keep exploring what the best version of us looks like, and when there's free agents available we'll keep exploring those things." Asked if he felt Collingwood was a chance to get Silvagni, McRae stressed that was the role of list manager Justin Leppitsch and football boss Charlie Gardiner. "I just met with a young man and … we had a first date to see if we like each other," McRae said. "Yeah, I could go on a second date with Jack." Collingwood has reportedly put a four-year deal in front of Silvagni, 27, who has shone as a key back this year on his return from an ACL tear, but is currently sidelined with a groin injury. He is the son of Blues great Stephen Silvagni, who played 312 games for Carlton, and the grandson of Sergio Silvagni, who made 239 appearances for the club. Jack has played 128 times for Carlton since he was selected as a father-son draft pick in 2015 and his departure would be a hammer blow to the Blues faithful. Collingwood is keen to build its defensive depth, after Nathan Murphy's concussion-forced retirement last year was compounded by Reef McInnes suffering an ACL tear early this season. 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) did not train on Wednesday, but McRae said he "should be fine" to face reigning premiers Brisbane on Saturday at the MCG, while Scott Pendlebury is set to return. Collingwood is weighing up whether to bring back Bobby Hill, who kicked three goals in the VFL in 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 minutes]," 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?" AAP
The Age
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
McRae's had a ‘first date' with Jack Silvagni. Now he wants a second
Collingwood great Nathan Buckley gave a glowing assessment of Silvagni when speaking on SEN on Wednesday morning. '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?'
West Australian
13 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
AFL 2025: Collingwood toying with Dan McStay as defender and could deploy him as early as this week
AFL 2025: Collingwood toying with Dan McStay as defender and could deploy him as early as this week
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Magpie coach's date with destiny comes out of the Blue
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has met with Jack Silvagni as Carlton's favourite son moves closer to a once-unthinkable switch to the Blues' fiercest rivals. Third-generation Blue Silvagni appears likely to depart Carlton as a free agent at season's end, with the Magpies leading the race after their coach's "first date" with the defender. Asked if he'd met with Silvagni, McRae said: "Yeah I did. "And I'm confident to say we'll keep exploring what the best version of us looks like, and when there's free agents available we'll keep exploring those things." Asked if he felt Collingwood were a chance to get Silvagni, McRae stressed that was the role of list manager Justin Leppitsch and football boss Charlie Gardiner. "I just met with a young man and ... we had a first date to see if we like each other," McRae said. "Yeah, I could go on a second date with Jack." Collingwood have reportedly put a four-year deal in front of Silvagni, 27, who has shone as a key back this year on his return from an ACL tear, but is currently sidelined with a groin injury, He is the son of Blues great Stephen Silvagni, who played 312 games for Carlton, and the grandson of Sergio Silvagni, who made 239 appearances for the club. Jack has played 128 times for Carlton since he was selected as a father-son draft pick in 2015, and his departure would be a hammer blow to the Blues faithful. Collingwood are keen to build their defensive depth, after Nathan Murphy's concussion-forced retirement last year was compounded by Reef McInnes suffering an ACL tear early this season. 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 reigning premiers Brisbane on Saturday at the MCG, while Scott Pendlebury is set to return. Collingwood are weighing up whether to bring back Bobby Hill, who kicked three goals in the VFL in 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 minutes)," 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?"
