Ando’s Shout: Jack Silvagni comes of age with breakout season yet no new contract with the Blues

Blossoming Blue Jack Silvagni finally has the body right after three separate surgeries and the results are coming thick and fast. So why is he still out of contract? Jon Anderson asks.

The merit of Jack Silvagni’s breakout AFL season are being highlighted by three separate port-season surgeries on his knee, hip and shoulder.

Silvagni, 23, came of age in 2021 in a variety of roles, with lead-up forward the best of them, despite some believing he is capable of becoming a bigger bodied on-ball presence in the mould of two other Old Xaverians in Jobe Watson and Josh Kennedy.

But surprisingly he remains out of contact at Carlton after an initial offer that was said to be unflattering in both length and retribution.

He is not alone at Princes Park with 13 other teammates still out of contract.

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One of Jack Silvagni’s hallmarks is his unbridled passion.

Silvagni has enjoyed an exceptional season at Carlton.

HOW THE ORIGINAL BASH BROTHERS CAME TO BE

One finals win from two seasons in the early 1970s was nothing short of a disaster for Richmond, prompting the recruitment of a rugged forward from hated rival Carlton.

Roderick “call me Ricky” McLean had struggled in five seasons with the Blues, but there had been glimpses and his desire for the ball or anything between it made his recruitment of great appeal to a Tiger side that already boasted Neil Balme.

And so it was that the original “Bash Brothers” were formed.

As the 2021 finals series fast approaches, we wind back the clock 50 years to a tough duo that legendary Carlton full-back Geoff Southby well remembers.

“Rick McLean I was scared shit of, and that’s when he was a teammate at Carlton. Then he went to Richmond and played alongside Neil Balme. Balme was an incredibly talented player who had a massive dose of white-line fever,” Southby said.

Richmond players Neil Balme and Ricky McLean back in 1972.

Rick McLean (73, 39 games at Richmond, 103 goals): “I remember playing against South Melbourne when their full-back Tony Franklin, out of nowhere, king-hit me. I bashed him then threw him into a fence and he came back for more. ‘Balmey’ just quipped to him, ‘Have you got a death wish or something?’ I just started laughing. ‘Balmey’ was unassuming. As a teammate it was comforting having him in the team.

“There is nothing violent at all about him off the ground. By the mid to late 1970s, he was one of the best players in the game.

“So gifted, so instrumental at bringing others into the game. Like John Nicholls.”

Neil Balme (69, 159 games, 229 goals): “I knew of Rick and when he came I was very pleased he was going to be with us. We knew he was aggressive.

“As a club we very aware on intimidation and putting pressure on the opposition. Rick was a full-forward and I was a ruckman/forward. We worked well together. Rick was more talented than some might have thought, good hands, good kick and very strong.

“Would I have liked to play on Rick? I think I would have shit myself (laughter). We worked well because we weren’t selfish.
“And as a club we genuinely cared about each other. That came from our coach Tommy Hafey, just his attitude. I knew categorically that he believed in me.”

BACKFLIP: ROSS CHANGES HIS TUNE

Seven weeks is a long time in football. Just ask Ross Lyon, who in his role on Footy Classified reacted this way when I suggested in June that his links to Carlton were “strong”.

“It’s incredibly disrespectful,” Lyon said. “No one understands the stresses of the job (like) David Teague. I just think’s it’s cheap.”

Fast forward and this was Lyon on Footy Classified during the week, with Teague still coach of the Blues.

“Yes, (I would) certainly take the call and consider it,” Lyon said. “There’s enough Carlton people that are advocating because they’ve worked with me or know me personally. It makes you feel good.”

SHARPSHOTTER STONEHAM HAPPY WEAR No. 45

Before last weekend, Barry Stoneham’s main connection with the No. 45 was via the five games he played with Cameron Ling at Geelong in 2000.

Stoneham, 53, retired, has in recent times turned his sporting passion to golf at the links surrounds of Barwon Heads Golf Club.

And that’s where Ling’s No. 45 appeared again, when Stoneham secured that many stableford points off a handicap of 15 (equivalent to a round of 76, par 70). That handicap has now dropped to 12.8 and expect it to get lower from all reports.

NO SHORTAGE OF SUITORS IN RACE FOR AYRES

The Sorrento Sharks, Doncaster, Wandin, South Croydon, Darley and Wodonga Raiders have been linked to the much sought-after coaching services of Gary Ayres.

Ayres, 60, has been involved with senior football since starting at Hawthorn as a 17-year-old in 1978.

He finished his stellar playing career in 1993 (five premierships) before he coached at Geelong, Adelaide, Essendon (assistant) and Port Melbourne.

HOT

ANDREW KRAKOUER

Knows his footy and articulates his message well on NIRS.

ALASTAIR CLARKSON

Big journey for a cheeky kid from Kaniva known as “Addis”

NOT

VIRAT KOHLI

His on-field reactions border on maniacal.

DIVING IN CRICKET

Why would any bowler risk shoulder damage by diving towards the boundary?

Originally published as Ando’s Shout: Jack Silvagni comes of age with breakout season yet no new contract with the Blues