Jack Silvagni has been a real asset to the Blues over the past month (Photo: Elly McNerney)
Jack Silvagni has proven to be a versatile option for the Blues over the season, with injuries to key position players it has allowed Silvagni to become quite the Jack of all trades.
David Teague was full of praise when asked about Silvagni in terms of what he’s brought to the Blues especially while he’s been in the ruck.
Silvagni led from the front, standing up again in the ruck, providing pressure around the ball, and in the middle on Friday night that saw him take best on ground honours against the Saints.
“He’s been great, he’s a competitor and he’s been really passionate about playing for the Carlton Football Club and I know his teammates love that, his ability to compete,” Teague said.
“He’s been really important for us particularly as a ruckman and he puts the presser on in the front half. He probably hasn’t hit the scoreboard as much as he would have liked from a forwards point of view but when he’s been put into the ruck that challenge, he’s follow up and second effort.
“I think he had nine tackles last week and led the way there with Matthew Kennedy and Patrick Cripps around that pressure as well. So he’s been great for us, we love seeing him, love the energy that he brings and the passion he plays with.”
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Having provided that pressure around the ball, the blues haven’t ruled out moving Silvagni into the midfield once more key position players return from injury.
“He has played that role, I know he’s tagged [Nat] Fyfe in a game a couple of years ago and he’s played as a big-bodied midfielder at times.
“Potentially, this year we’ve probably struggled for height in the front half so we haven’t really thought of it about it too much we’ve needed him to give us an option in the front half.
“Then he’s gone as a second ruck so it is something that we can go to down the track, when we have a few more other available, some other taller players to play the key position roles and he could step across into am midfield role.”
From one Carlton tall to another, Tom De Koning is a chance to play this weekend while Levi Casboult is also in the mix for selection this week.
“Tommy is a test at this stage it’s looking more likely than unlikely but we’ll wait and see, we’ve got training after this, see how he pulls up but he’s more likely than unlikely.
“Levi Casboult is a possibility to return this weekend as well. We played Mitch McGovern in the ruck at VFL level and did quite well. We’re going to have a few options and see how the guys get through training. At this stage hopefully is Tommy is available and we’ll play him.”
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