Latest news with #JackSilvagni
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The mid-season verdict: He's a star Blue, but at the moment he's just going
The mid-season byes have begun, and in the first of our mid-season report cards, we take a look at a club that has exceeded expectations, one that is making painfully slow progress and two who have slid down the ladder. Carlton (12th, four wins, seven losses) Who's hot? In his 10th season, Jack Silvagni has been a revelation in his new role as a defender. Silvagni's ability to stop high-quality forwards, from a key type like Aaron Naughton to the medium-sized threat like Patrick Dangerfield, intercept and launch counter-attacks is one of the reasons why the Blues, for all their problems, has been one of the more difficult sides to score against. A streamlined George Hewett is having a career-best season in the midfield at the age of 29, and Nick Haynes has overcome a horror start to life as a Blue by turning the clock back to the pre-pandemic years. Tom De Koning was the best ruck in the competition in the first month, but his form has tailed off. Jacob Weitering had been in All-Australian form before two below-par games coming into the bye. Who's not? The Blues need more from their superstars. Patrick Cripps and Charlie Curnow are having reasonable years but are capable of finding another level. Harry McKay has struggled with consistency since returning from a mental health break, though his best has been the reason why the Blues have won. After another interrupted preseason, Sam Walsh has become just a player, unable to run opponents off their legs like he used to. The same can be said of Blake Acres, who is not having the same impact of his first two years at the club. Verdict: So much more was expected of the Blues, who have been one of the most disappointing clubs of the season. Despite having two Coleman medallists in their forward line the Blues are having enormous difficulties scoring. Their lack of class small forwards has hurt, but their ball movement is slow and imprecise. They are as tense as a patient visiting the dentist. Similar problems were overcome in 2023 when they mounted a stunning run to the preliminary final, but they do not have the same quality on their list. A friendly draw over the next month will give Blues fans hope but a finals berth is unlikely. Grade: D+ North Melbourne (17th, two wins, one draw, eight losses) Who's hot? After a slow start to the season, Tristan Xerri is again mounting a strong claim for a maiden All-Australian blazer. The ruckman, with his attack on the ball and wholehearted manner in which he plays, has become the Kangaroos' on-field spiritual leader. Small forward Paul Curtis has continued his improvement and, with 19 goals to the bye, is on track to pass his career-best haul of 30 last year. Cameron Zurhaar has rediscovered his bull-at-a-gate ways in attack to add much-needed bite to the forward line. Veteran Luke Parker has justified his acquisition on the field even if his greatest impact might be felt in the locker room.
The Age
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
The mid-season verdict: He's a star Blue, but at the moment he's just going
The mid-season byes have begun, and in the first of our mid-season report cards, we take a look at a club that has exceeded expectations, one that is making painfully slow progress and two who have slid down the ladder. Carlton (12th, four wins, seven losses) Who's hot? In his 10th season, Jack Silvagni has been a revelation in his new role as a defender. Silvagni's ability to stop high-quality forwards, from a key type like Aaron Naughton to the medium-sized threat like Patrick Dangerfield, intercept and launch counter-attacks is one of the reasons why the Blues, for all their problems, has been one of the more difficult sides to score against. A streamlined George Hewett is having a career-best season in the midfield at the age of 29, and Nick Haynes has overcome a horror start to life as a Blue by turning the clock back to the pre-pandemic years. Tom De Koning was the best ruck in the competition in the first month, but his form has tailed off. Jacob Weitering had been in All-Australian form before two below-par games coming into the bye. Who's not? The Blues need more from their superstars. Patrick Cripps and Charlie Curnow are having reasonable years but are capable of finding another level. Harry McKay has struggled with consistency since returning from a mental health break, though his best has been the reason why the Blues have won. After another interrupted preseason, Sam Walsh has become just a player, unable to run opponents off their legs like he used to. The same can be said of Blake Acres, who is not having the same impact of his first two years at the club. Verdict: So much more was expected of the Blues, who have been one of the most disappointing clubs of the season. Despite having two Coleman medallists in their forward line the Blues are having enormous difficulties scoring. Their lack of class small forwards has hurt, but their ball movement is slow and imprecise. They are as tense as a patient visiting the dentist. Similar problems were overcome in 2023 when they mounted a stunning run to the preliminary final, but they do not have the same quality on their list. A friendly draw over the next month will give Blues fans hope but a finals berth is unlikely. Grade: D+ North Melbourne (17th, two wins, one draw, eight losses) Who's hot? After a slow start to the season, Tristan Xerri is again mounting a strong claim for a maiden All-Australian blazer. The ruckman, with his attack on the ball and wholehearted manner in which he plays, has become the Kangaroos' on-field spiritual leader. Small forward Paul Curtis has continued his improvement and, with 19 goals to the bye, is on track to pass his career-best haul of 30 last year. Cameron Zurhaar has rediscovered his bull-at-a-gate ways in attack to add much-needed bite to the forward line. Veteran Luke Parker has justified his acquisition on the field even if his greatest impact might be felt in the locker room.
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
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.'
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Michael Voss insists star forward Charlie Curnow will play St Kilda on Friday despite ‘nice little collision' with teammate
Carlton coach Michael Voss denied star forward Charlie Curnow was having injections in his knee just to get through training and insisted he was 'fine' to play St Kilda despite a 'nice little collision' with a teammate. Curnow collided with star ruckman Tom De Koning late in Wednesday's session but Voss said there was no issue with the 28-year-old's knee and he would train again on Thursday before Friday night's game. Voss said he tried to 'fob off' reports around Curnow but did want to clarify his fitness. 'He'll be fine,' Voss said on Thursday. 'The last 30 seconds of the drill, him and Tom had a nice little collision, so it's not exactly what you want to see. 'They're both fine. I tried to have a bit of a laugh to fob it off, but (an initial report he was) holding his knee is incorrect … he's fine.' Voss said it 'wasn't the case' that Curnow had been having pain injections before training. 'You don't need to know specifics – let's just say he's playing, he said. 'I think I've been pretty emphatic at this point that he's playing.' Jack Silvagni returns to the Blues line-up after breaking his hand in the first quarter of the round 7 win over Geelong to bolster the team after last week's road loss that Voss said was reviewed hard. 'The recent form says we have been going OK, but we let ourselves down last week,' he said. 'It's just taking the opportunity to reset and reinforce what works well for us.' That will include a renewed focus on effort, which was down against the Crows and left Voss 'disappointed the most'. 'We'd made a lot of ground in a lot of areas … we're looking for a response,' he said.
ABC News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Michael Voss says Charlie Curnow will play this weekend despite injury at Blues training
A cagey Michael Voss has attempted to diffuse any concern over Charlie Curnow's fitness after the star Carlton forward was involved in a heavy training collision. The Blues coach declared the dual Coleman medallist was available for Friday night's clash with St Kilda at Docklands. Curnow will take part in Carlton's captain's run today in a bid to reassure medical staff he is fine to play. Voss confirmed Curnow had collided with star ruckman Tom De Koning at training, but disputed reports the 28-year-old had an issue with his knee. With Carlton coming off a thumping defeat to Adelaide, Voss was in no mood to discuss specifics around Curnow's health. "He'll be fine," Voss said on Thursday. "The last 30 seconds of the drill, him and Tom had a nice little collision, so it's not exactly what you want to see. "I tried to have a bit of a laugh to fob it off, but holding his knee is incorrect." Voss also rejected suggestions Curnow had been receiving pain-killing injections in his knee to train and play. "You don't need to know specifics, let's just say he's playing," he said. Voss also said key defender Jack Silvagni would return after missing the 60-point smashing by the Crows at Adelaide Oval. Silvagni, who has been one of the Blues' best players this season, broke his hand in the rousing win against Geelong a week earlier. The ABC of SPORT Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday. Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe AAP
