Carlton list manager Stephen Silvagni defends Blues’ talent and slams unfounded ‘rumours’

CARLTON list boss Stephen Silvagni has again defended his club’s rebuild, including the number of recycled players on the list, and questioned why some feel he needs to publicly address the Blues’ on-field performances.

Stephen Silvagni during last year’s trade period. Pic: Getty Images

CARLTON list boss Stephen Silvagni has again defended his club’s rebuild and questioned why some feel he needs to publicly address the Blues’ on-field performances.

Silvagni, a favourite son at Ikon Park, played 312 matches for the club before taking on the role as list manager at the end of 2014.

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With the Blues edging closer to a fifth wooden spoon in 17 seasons, Silvagni and the Blues’ list is under the microscope.

But Silvagni has defended Carlton’s rebuild - saying fans knew where the club was positioned - before explaining some of the decisions made since he returned to the club.

“We have come out, and at the end of the day we’ve been really clear to our members, we haven’t wavered from our plan, we’re sticking to the plan,” he said.

Silvagni’s name has been mentioned by Blues’ greats such as Mark Maclure and Robert Walls in recent weeks as the former Carlton stars seek answers about a list that has won just one match in 2018.

In a wide-ranging interview on Footy Classified, Silvagni addressed a range of issues, including a criticism the Blues’ list features too many recycled players.

“Certainly there’s some players there that aren’t seen as long-term players but when you’re making roughly, over the last three years, on average over 10 changes on your list, you can’t bring in 10 18-year-olds.

“You’ve actually got to support yourself with some senior players … hence why some of those players were brought into the club.

“Now some of those players aren’t long term … some were actually brought onto our list to play VFL footy and support our kids.”

Carlton coach Brendan Bolton and list manager Stephen Silvagni. Picture: Michael Klein

Silvagni was also asked about …

When the influx of recycled players might stop:

“You’ve also got to understand, you get one pick every 18 (selections in the draft) and if you actually look at the cards we were dealt with at the start of our term — that’s all we can be judged on.

“There was (Lachie) Henderson, that’s (now) Harry McKay. There was Chris Yarran, that’s David Cuningham. There’s Zach Tuohy, that’s Caleb Marchbank. There’s Bryce Gibbs (for) really two first-round picks … that’s basically what we’ve done.”

On trading the No.1 draft pick

“You look at every option. Everything is for sale,” he said.

“It’s really easy to build a list to get to eighth, ninth and 10th. We could do that, but to build a list to win a premiership will take time and patience. It took Richmond a long time.”

Coach Brendon Bolton:

“Stick fat with him, because he’s a very good teacher,” he said.

“Obviously he’s going through a difficult time because of the injuries on our list and our age demographic.

“He’s coaching a team that really each week hasn’t got anywhere near its best team out there … it will hold us in good stead in years to come.”

The Blues’ culture:

“It’s a really good culture. The group of boys we’ve got there are really good lads.

“We’ve got a good leadership group … they work extremely hard.”

On whether he was disappointed with the way Carlton handled former CEO Steven Trigg’s departure:

“To be perfectly honest Caroline (Wilson) I actually wanted to have this discussion with you some 12 months ago,” he said.

“You actually wrote an article that I was one of the henchmen to actually get rid of Steven Trigg, which was totally untrue.

“You actually said I was one of the henchman that I actually played a part in getting rid of Steven, which was untrue … Steven Trigg and myself actually had a really good relationship and I actually owe this job to Steven Trigg.

“And it (the article) actually put a bit of a wedge (between us) until we actually worked out how all this sort of happened.

“It was either a rumour or lies in terms of the Steven Trigg article.”

On why he hasn’t been a more public figure during Blues’ tough times:

“Can I ask you one thing? What other list manager has come out publicly to talk about performances?

“How many rebuilds have there been over the last six years and name me one list manager that has to come out publicly and actually state their case in relation to a rebuild?”

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