By Sam McClure
Carlton have refused to engage in a war of words with club legend and former list boss Stephen Silvagni, who has lashed the club and its hierarchy for the way he was treated.
Silvagni has made an explosive claim about his departure from the club, stating that Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle believed he would "sabotage" the trade period if they kept him at the club.
Former Carlton list manager Stephen Silvagni.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Silvagni left Carlton after last year's trade period, following a falling out with the club's management, including Liddle as well as president – and former close friend – Mark LoGiudice.
Speaking publicly for the first time since departing, Silvagni admitted it was a "messy" situation.
"What hurt me the most … probably when your president has a chat to you and he says I've fought for you, that the CEO felt as though I would sabotage the trade and draft period," Silvagni said.
"I hate talking about myself, but when you've played for a club for 17 years and you put your body on the line and supported the club all your life, for a person to say you'll sabotage the trade and draft period, and for me, an outsider that's come into the club and doesn't know a lot about the club or me, that was probably the most disappointing out of everything that happened."
At the time of his departure, the club released a media statement claiming there was a conflict with Silvagni managing the list given two of his sons – Jack and Ben – were at the club.
"The difficult decision to not enter into a new contract with Silvagni as GM list management and strategy centred around the increasing complexity of having two sons on the playing list," the club a statement said at the time.
"The situation is not only a conflict for the club's GM list management and strategy, but equally for those who work in and around him in the football department."
Speaking in a paid interview on SEN on Wednesday morning, Silvagni said: "Looking back at the press release, it put the boys under the bus and it was amateur, to be honest. It lacked any respect about how you handle people on the way out. It was probably the most hurtful thing.
"That was probably the most hurtful thing. I think your two biggest assets at a football club are your supporters and your players.
"It got messy in the end and throughout the year I was talking to the president about moving on. That decision was made for me and that happens in footy clubs."
The younger of the two Silvagnis on Carlton's list – Ben – has been delisted after two years without playing a game, and while Jack is contracted for next season it remains unclear if he is in the long-term plans of coach David Teague.
Silvagni said the immediate future of son Jack remained uncertain.
"I really haven't spoken to him about it, he's his own person. My view is ... when a club actually puts more pressure on that player than they should through a season, I find that frustrating."
Silvagni also criticised the club over its approach to recruiting fan favourite Eddie Betts.
"Ultimately I look back and we all agreed that Eddie Betts should come to Carlton, but it was at a price. We all agreed on that but when someone from above decides to change those rules ... our list wasn't in a good state and neither was our salary cap," he said.
Liddle has been contacted, but the club has declined to comment, privately stating it is not in anyone's interests to be dragged into a war of words.