Coburg recruit Tom Silvestro to add leadership, outside polish in 2020
Coburg has added its second Tiger this off-season, securing Richmond VFL mainstay Tom Silvestro, as well as an exciting key forward to take the pressure of club captain Peter McEvoy.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Leadership and outside polish were two key off-season needs at Coburg and they’ve got both in Tom Silvestro.
The Lions added another Tiger to the den by securing the talented midfielder from Richmond, he joins teammate Jacob Ballard at Piranha Park.
Silvestro played 17 VFL games this season but missed out on Richmond’s run to the premiership, squeezed out by the plethora of AFL-listed players.
MOVES: COBURG SECURES PREMIERSHIP TIGER
LEADER: GET YOUR VFL FOOTY NEWS HERE
GREAT: DELEDIO JOINS BOX HILL HAWKS FOR 2020
The 180cm wingman averaged 13 disposals and three tackles a game but showed his potential with 24 disposals, four marks and three tackles in a best-on-ground performance against Footscray in Round 14.
Coburg coach Andrew Sturgess was rapt to add another quality player to the club’s developing list.
“We’re fortunate that Tom’s chosen us, it adds not just another quality player but a quality person,” he said.
“Getting Tom and Jacob Ballard over the line as our first two major signings is a good indication that people see we’re going in the right direction.
“Getting guys like Tom, who is in the 24 to 25-year-old demographic, in is going to compliment our guys and add great leaders as well.
“We feel like we’ve got a strong inside midfield group at the moment and now we’re adding some class and talent to our outside brigade.”
The Lions have also secured developing key forward Aaron Clarke to take the pressure off captain Peter McEvoy.
Clarke, 19, is a 194cm goalkicker who booted 42 majors in 33 NAB League games with the Western Jets over the past two years as well as 20 goals in 12 Ballarat league games for Melton South.
“He has so much to offer right now, yet has so much more improvement and upside in him to come,” Sturgess said.
In further good news for the Lions, key defender Harry Nolan committed for 2020.
AFL Draft hopes Sam Lowson and Lochie Dickson are still yet to sign as they wait to find out if they’ll be taken by an AFL club.
Despite the wait, Sturgess believed developing players ready for AFL football was a true positive for the club.
“It’s a good indication that our club is doing a lot right to get these guys noticed,” he said.
“People don’t realise how good a history we have at the draft, we’ve had four guys drafted since we were standalone.”
In 2016, Luke Ryan was plucked by Fremantle at pick No.66 and Robbie Fox was taken by Sydney at pick No.34 in the rookie draft, while Michael Hartley was taken at pick No.63 in 2015 by Essendon.
For all the latest news from the VFL and other suburban competitions over the off-season, log on to localfooty.com.au