a day ago
Carlton ‘resigned to losing' Jack Silvagni as Western Bulldogs ‘well and truly alive' in battle with Collingwood
Carlton are increasingly resigned to losing son-of-a-gun defender Jack Silvagni but a move to Collingwood is far from the 'done deal' many thought it was three weeks ago.
The 27-year-old is on the verge of a previously unthinkable exit to become the first in his family to pull on a different jumper in the AFL.
The Pies were the first club to be linked to Silvagni — and Craig McRae's controversial public comments suggested they might already have their man.
Silvagni's long-time best mate Dan Houston was seen as the trump card for Collingwood.
But the Western Bulldogs soon arrived on the scene, also boasting friends of the 128-gamer.
'Many thought it was a done deal for Collingwood, or close to it,' 7NEWS Melbourne's Mitch Cleary said on The Agenda Setters.
'I think the Bulldogs are well and truly alive in this race. We all talk about the Dan Houston impact and his relationship at Collingwood — I don't think we can discount the role that Matt Kennedy will have in potentially wooing Jack Silvagni to the kennel.'
Kennedy is coming to the end of his first season at the Bulldogs after being moved on by Carlton with a year to run on his contract.
Just last month he spoke glowingly of life at the Dogs, saying it had helped to be reunited with former teammates Liam Jones, who also played with Silvagni at the Blues, and ex-GWS man Rory Lobb.
'I'm loving how much this club embraced me and my family since moving here,' Kennedy told 3AW, also praising midfield leaders Tom Liberatore and Marcus Bontempelli.
'I mentioned a few of the leaders before in Libba and Bont, the way they've put their arms around me and really tried to learn structure and stoppage and whatnot as well as the coaches.
'Having an old teammate in Lobby and Jonesy, these little things make a big difference, I think, when you feel comfortable and confident and loved from players.'
The Blues would dearly love to keep Silvagni but the defender is in the rare position of deciding between three clubs without consideration for money or a go-home factor.
All three offers are 'in the same ballpark', according to Cleary, putting a premium on his fit on and off the field — not to mention his premiership aspirations.
'I think the Blues are the third option right now,' Cleary said.
'There are people at Carlton resigned to losing Jack Silvagni. They feel he has well and truly played his last game in the navy blue.'
Premiership winners Luke Hodge and Kane Cornes both described a Silvagni-Bulldogs partnership as a 'a perfect fit'.
