Carlton fighting to retain skipper Marc Murphy as potential father-son Ben Silvagni stakes claim

AS Carlton fights to retain skipper Marc Murphy, the club is also eyeing another son of a gun with Ben Silvagni — brother of Jack — making strides in his final season of junior footy.

Marc Murphy has a decision to make. Pic: Getty Images

JACK Silvagni will start life as a senior AFL midfielder on Friday night as the Blues move heaven and earth to keep another son of a gun.

Carlton will take on Sydney at the SCG, with coach Brendon Bolton adamant they would not be an “embarrassment” in a Friday Fright Night.

Silvagni has played five games in the VFL as an inside midfielder, last week attending 19 centre bounces as the Blues attempt to add another string to his bow.

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It comes as the Blues fight hard to keep captain Marc Murphy, list manager Steve Silvagni meeting with his management this week.

The Herald Sun understands they stressed how desperate they were to retain Murphy amid lingering speculation they might be happy to lose him for a free agency compensation pick.

Marc Murphy has an offer on the table. Pic: Getty Images

The son of six-time best-and-fairest winner John has been offered a two-year deal on excellent money and will consider Carlton’s offer as rivals circle.

Despite TV reports, Carlton believes it would receive only a modest free agency compensation selection if he left for a rival Melbourne club.

Murphy turns 31 next month and would likely take a pay cut to leave for a premiership contender, meaning the compensation would be a medium-to-late draft pick.

He has travelled with the team to Sydney as he is sidelined for another month with a recurrence of his plantar fascia issue.

Jacob Weitering will also return for the Blues after a lengthy VFL stint, with Harry McKay to return to the VFL to continue his football education.

Bolton said Silvagni would play a mixture of midfield and forward after strong VFL form.

That included a recent 154-ranking point game against Williamstown with 20 possessions, eight clearances, three goals and six tackles.

“He’s been building his game through the VFL so we will see how he steps up there,” Bolton said.

“It has give him an opportunity to touch the ball. Playing midfield, you go and hunt your own ball and you can feel confident touching it. He needs to work in both but it may give him a second opinion.”

Jack Silvagni is proving his versatility. Pic: AAP

Silvagni is winning plenty of contested ball. Pic: Michael Klein

Williamstown coach Andy Collins, a triple premiership Hawk and dual VFL premiership coach, said he still felt Silvagni might be suited as a defender.

“He is very courageous and has nice athleticism. He might be a player who can flip down the other end. He is very courageous aerially and they can put him in the hole and he could fly at everything,’’ he said.

“He kicked a couple of goals against us but two of those were free kicks with some theatrics involved. His endeavour is always at the highest level against us.

“I am sure Carlton has a very good footballer in him and at 191cm it is interesting to see how he evolves.

“We beat them pretty convincingly that day but he was one of their shining lights.”

The Blues face another difficult draft decision with 196cm swingman Ben Silvagni, draft eligible this year and still in the Vic Metro squad ahead of the national championships starting this weekend.

Oakleigh Talent manager Craig Notman said Ben Silvagni continued to improve with every game in his first TAC Cup season as an 18-year-old.

“Ben is still in the Vic Metro program and from our point of view each game he plays he continues to improve. We have played him predominantly forward but in a top-of-the-table clash a few weeks ago he played on (top draft prospect) Bailey Williams early and looked the goods as a backman.

Ben Silvagni might be a Blue one day. Pic: AFL Media

“I am not sure he wanted to play back but he looked the good as a backman and had all the tools to play a key defensive role. He looks like a very decent player and will continue to grow over the next part of the year.”

Bolton believes the Friday night stage is perfect for his young Blues despite criticism they do not belong there given they are bottom of the table.

“I think be careful using that sort of line — ‘embarrassment’,” he said.

“What we’ve looked at is the opportunity it provides for so many of our youngsters on the big stage.

“What great learning opportunities. I know Richmond went through a bit of that in the early days and it pays you back because you learn to play on the stage and that’s what it is for most of our group.”

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