Carlton’s next list boss faces a dilemma over Stephen Silvagni’s sons
Carlton’s next list boss will have to make tough decisions on two of predecessor Stephen Silvagni’s sons — one already at the club and the other who is eligible for the draft next year.
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Carlton’s new list boss next year faces unenviable decisions on two of Stephen Silvagni’s three sons as the fallout from the club’s parting with its list boss continued.
The Blues are expected to replace Silvagni with a new list and strategy boss, with list manager Mick Agresta not expected to be elevated to a more senior role.
Carlton finally parted ways with Silvagni this week, citing his challenge in managing conflicts at Carlton involving sons Ben and Jack.
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Rival list and player managers were shocked the Blues had placed more pressure on his sons by referring to his conflict of interest over them but it was cited as the key factor by Carlton.
Raw key position player Ben Silvagni comes out of contract next year and will have to show significant improvement to keep his spot after a year of gradual development at both ends in the VFL.
Silvagni’s youngest son Tom will spend the week training with Carlton at Ikon Park next week as he begins to ramp up his involvement in elite junior programs.
Like Jack and Ben before him, he will spend his draft-eligible year playing with Xavier College and participating in NAB League football for the first time with the Oakleigh Chargers.
But despite encouraging progress with Xavier as a key back he will have to shine with Oakleigh, not considered one of the top 2020 prospects given his size and limited exposure.
Oakleigh coach Leigh Clarke told the Herald Sun he was excited to see what kind of talent Tom Silvagni possessed after only just starting his first pre-season.
“Tom is draft eligible (in 2020). Like all the Silvagnis he has only come in and joined the program coming into Year 12.
“He is different to Ben and Jack, he hasn’t got their size. He is around six foot (182cm) but he looks a little bit more agile than the boys.
“Ben is significantly taller but coming into our fifth training session last night we had some small-sided handball games and he certainly has some skills and traits.
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“He played key defence for his school last year and he wouldn’t be big enough to do that at AFL level. He is training with Carlton academy program next week. But he certainly stood out in the way he handled those handball games last night.”
Carlton believed it would have been impossible to have its list boss again sidelined from key list management meetings over his sons.
But the industry believed he had handled the conflict well – footy boss Andrew McKay took over the decision-making on Jack Silvagni’s recruitment and Agresta negotiated his new two-year extension this year without his father’s involvement.
Despite a running power struggle between Silvagni and CEO Cain Liddle over recruitment of players seen internally as the key to his demise, the club’s own statement referred to his conflict of interest with his kids.
Jack Silvagni tweeted and then deleted the message: “Sorry dad, my fault” on Wednesday as well as liked tweets including one that said: “Disgraceful what they have done to SOS.”
It is understood Carlton was conscious of the welfare of Jack and Ben, informing them of the decision to move on their father before the decision was made.
The club also checked in with them on Thursday to assess its impact, with both players having had their challenges playing as the sons of a Carlton champion.
Jack has overcome that burden to play 60 games and emerge this year as a versatile mid-forward, while Ben Silvagni admitted he was teased about the link at times.
“The only thing I get is sledges out on the field because people who know my surname,“ he said.
“You’re living in your dad’s shadow’- that’s one (I’ve copped). I copped ‘how is your skin so tanned if you’re living in your dad’s shadow?’ — that was probably the best one. ‘You’re worse than your brother’ — that’s another one I copped.”