Jack Silvagni doesn’t get a lot of the ball but coach Brendon Bolton might be happy with the output
WHERE is Jack Silvagni’s best position? What is his best attribute? Where does his future lie, forward or defence? He’s only 20 years and played 30 games but those are the questions being asked of Carlton royalty.
Mark Robinson
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THE questions come at different times for AFL players.
At 20, and after 30 games, questions are being asked of Jack Silvagni.
It might be harsh on the kid, for he is still to develop as an AFL footballer.
But there are queries about exactly what Silvagni is and will be for Carlton.
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He’s 191cm and 89kg, slowish for a general forward and doesn’t win a lot of the ball.
Still, he’s clever, his work rate is high and he has kicked 26.24 in his career.
Will he remain a forward, develop enough to be a second-string midfielder or end up in defence like the old man, probably as a third-tall minder and interceptor, are the queries for discussion.
Or will he cough up his spot because speed kills and Silvagni will have difficult holding down his position without it.
Just one game into the 2018 season, Silvagni was a topic of conversation on weekend radio.
It centred around dad being list boss and whether that would put pressure on coach Brendon Bolton if Bolton was to axe Silvagni from the senior team.
If it did, Bolton shouldn’t be coach.
Regardless of lineage, even as great as the Silvagni name is, Bolton will do what’s right for the team.
When judging any footballer, in this case Silvagni, it’s important to know what role the coach is asking him to play.
Against Richmond, Silvagni had six disposals, zero score involvements and 29 forward-half pressure points, which represents physical pressure such as tackling, closing pressure, corralling and chasing pressure.
Comparatively, Essendon’s Devon Smith had 67 against Adelaide, which is off the charts, and Richmond’s Dan Butler had 47.
They don’t read well for the young Bluebagger.
Smith and Butler, however, didn’t have Alex Rance to contend with.
The Blues likely won’t talk about their match tactics, or even Silvagni’s role, but numbers tell Silvagni had Rance as an opponent for 39 minutes on Friday night.
Maybe he got so much time because Matthew Kreuzer was injured and Levi Casboult - who was Rance’s opponent early in the game - was asked to ruck.
But at the same time, it’s difficult to believe Bolton would allow for so long a young forward to go against the All-Australian defender, if the sole purpose was to kick goals.
No, Silvagni was used a stopping-type player on Rance and it was raging success.
In the 39 minutes, Rance had three touches.
The questions of Silvagni are valid because kids need tricks and we are yet to identify exactly what Silvagni’s No.1 talent is.
Against Rance it appeared it was being a minder and that’s horses for courses situation.
Still, he needs a one-wood.
He might even need a three-wood.
His average of 10 disposals are equal or thereabouts to Richmond’s Jason Castagna, Dan Rioli and Dan Butler. The different is those three have speed and pressure. Another difference is Silvagni doesn’t get the same opportunities as the Richmond players because of inside 50m numbers, so it can balance out.
Still, just where Silvagni fits - if at all - is question coming quickly.
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