AFL Track Watch: Jack Silvagni’s new role, Carlton star Charlie Curnow set for more surgery
An ACL tear wrecked Jack Silvagni’s 2024 campaign – and when he returns, the Carlton side will look different. So, where does he fit in? Get the latest from Blues training.
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Carlton’s continuous search for defensive support will see Jack Silvagni trialled as a defender over pre-season.
The returning utility has eased his way into pre-season so far as he completes the final stages of a recovery from ACL surgery that wrecked his 2024 and has begun working with the defensive group.
Silvagni, who will turn 27 on Tuesday, has largely played as a marking forward who can chip in with some minutes in the ruck but has never starred in that role, having not kicked more than 19 goals in any of his nine seasons.
With defender Brodie Kemp to be sent to train as a forward after a successful stint there when Carlton was smashed by injury late in 2024, Silvagni will go the other way in a bid to add strong-body support next to Jacob Weitering.
He will likely be left to fight for minutes in defence as a third-tall option with recruit Nick Haynes and Lewis Young, with Mitch McGovern favoured as Weitering’s tall lieutenant last season.
“Kempy will play (forward), we are going to look at SOS (Silvagni) down back,” Blues coach Michael Voss told the Carlton website.
“We are certainly committed to both of those roles getting done but the strength of being able to do that is we know they can flip to other roles if we need to. We know SOS can go forward and Kempy can go back but we feel like a pre-season spent somewhere else will add to us and obviously add to them.”
Runner Ollie Hollands is set to play off half-back, alongside Nic Newman, Adam Saad and Jordan Boyd.
Second-year speedster Billy Wilson and the impressive Lachlan Cowan will push for minutes there as well.
Alex Cincotta, who has played off half-back for most of his time at Carlton, will miss the remainder of pre-season due to hip surgery.
Zac Williams has continued to train with the forwards after being swapped there midway through 2024.
Blue to miss five months, Curnow set for more surgery
Carlton tagger Alex Cincotta is set to miss the start of the season as he gets set for hip surgery as superstar Charlie Curnow will also have another operation.
Role playing Blue Cincotta had been sidelined from training recently and met with a specialist this week, who has sent him to the operating table.
The Blues expect Cincotta to be sidelined for “four to five months” and hope to have him back to play early in the next season.
He played 16 games in 2024 and performed well when sent to do a defensive forward job in the middle of the season, kicking seven goals in four weeks in the tagging role.
Goalkicking star Curnow will also have surgery, a minor clean out of his knee.
Curnow had ankle surgery after last season and had been limited on the training track due to a sore back, and will not join his teammates on a camp in the Sunshine Coast next week.
Carlton labelled the surgery as a “proactive decision” and that his availability for round 1 will not be affected.
Curnow appeared on track for a third consecutive Coleman Medal late in last season but the ankle woes ruled him out for the final rounds and an elimination final loss to Brisbane.
He finished the year with 57 goals, well down on the 81 he bagged in 2023.
The Blues have had a lengthy list of players in their rehab group with Blake Acres (back), Corey Durdin (shoulder), Matt Cottrell (shoulder), Jack Silvagni (knee) and Matt Duffy (knee) all at various stages of fitness.
All of that group are expected to be involved in full training in the new year.
Defender Mitch McGovern has also been seen in a specialised program at pre-season training.
Track watch: Next Durham? Bargain pick turning heads
– Harvey Contsable
Carlton’s Camporeale twins showcased their potential at the Blues’ open training session at La Trobe University on Friday.
In front of the Carlton faithful, the new draftees trained above their age, slotting in seamlessly with the midfield group.
Ben and Lucas, alongside No. 3 pick Jagga Smith have only added to Carlton’s midfield depth, with many other squad players also hoping to break into the AFL side in 2025.
In one crumbing drill on the wing which featured what looked to be Carlton’s main midfield group, Ben and Lucas ran in combination with the likes of Sam Walsh, Adam Cerra and Patrick Cripps.
With two ovals available at La Trobe, the Blues opted for a modified match-sim on the smaller ground in the first half of the session.
The smaller match simulation then moved to the other ground where the full group competed.
Lachie Cowan impressed off halfback, providing plenty of dash and delivering well by foot.
Second-year player Billy Wilson also showed his rapid pace off halfback, bursting through the lines on multiple occasions.
AFL Track Watch: Jack Silvagni’s new role, Carlton star Charlie Curnow set for more surgery
After training with the midfield group last week, Nic Newman was back in his defensive role and Brodie Kemp played as a forward.
The lengthy list of players rehabilitating included Blake Acres, Orazio Fantasia, Matt Cottrell, Jack Silvagni, Corey Durdin and Mitch McGovern, all of whom trained away from the main group.
Charlie Curnow trained earlier before leaving as the main session began.
The Blues also went through some light skill work earlier on in the morning, with a specific focus on defensive spoiling. All fit players completed the drill which had one group punching the ball through for a rushed behind and the other jumping on ruck coach Matthew Kreuzer’s back to spoil the ball away from a pack in defence.
New recruit Nick Haynes featured as did All-Australian defender Jacob Weitering.
The players completed a running block after the main training, with the draftees and train-on players working with coaches around the ground on their ball skills.
Ollie Hollands looked the fittest of the runners.
PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED
Jagga Smith – It’s hard to watch the No. 3 pick in person and not be excited. Looks ready made for the level and has already been learning off Cripps and Walsh. Will continue to add size to his frame over the next few pre-seasons.
Harry Lemmey – Led to the right spot during the first match-sim and was rewarded for his efforts in the second game, getting on the end of a few chains, finishing well.
Adam Cerra – The man who had an injury-interrupted 2024 looks to be back fitter and stronger. His cleanliness around the contest was impressive.
Cooper Lord – Lord has already had a strong start to pre-season. He ran with the mids during most drills and didn’t look out of place. While he is still on the fringes, he pushed his case to break into the midfield pack which he’ll have to fight tooth and nail for a spot in.
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Originally published as AFL Track Watch: Jack Silvagni’s new role, Carlton star Charlie Curnow set for more surgery
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