AFL 2023: Blues await on health of Jack Silvagni with Martin, McKay set to miss Dees clash

Carlton’s stars are backing Jack Silvagni to make his return against Melbourne, but having only played a half of footy in eight weeks, what does he need to do to get back in?

Jack Martin of the Blues in action.

Carlton’s stars have backed Jack Silvagni to fire in a cutthroat final as the Blues consider whether to recall the ruck-forward despite a half of football in eight weeks.

Harry McKay’s concussion and the two-week suspension to Jack Martin mean the Blues have stripped valuable firepower from their forward line ahead of a clash against Melbourne’s star interceptors.

While Tom De Koning could play as a permanent forward next week the Demons will want enough height in their forward line to combat Jake Lever and Steven May.

Silvagni is finally ready for AFL action after a jarred knee saw him missing in action.

His last AFL game was in round 19, and when he returned in round 22 of the VFL he played a half but suffered a recurrence of that injury.

But Silvagni only needs to pull up well from a training session with game-day loads on Saturday to train this week and thrust his hand up for selection.

“I think he’s a big chance next week,” captain Patrick Cripps said.

“I don’t want to put the mozz on him but he’s been running and he’s pretty confident he can get up so he’s going to be huge when he’s ready to go.”

Silvagni could play a key role for the Blues with no Harry McKay. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Cripps is still wearing padding on his ribs after a collision in round 23 and joked he looked like an Australian Test No. 11 but will continue to use the rib protection.

Star midfielder Sam Walsh said the Blues would have to consider Silvagni, with sub Jesse Motlop and emergencies Paddy Dow, Zac Fisher and Ollie Hollands also in the mix.

“I think he had a session yesterday which is usually a game load,” he said of Silvagni.

“If you pull up well from that you are in a position to train for the rest of the week and put your hand up for selection and we have seen what he was able to do.

“Before he had his knee injury he was in a really good space and able to impact up the ground and in the ruck which is a tough role to do so he will be one who will definitely put his hand up.”

It would be another remarkable twist in Silvagni’s rollercoaster of a season in a week where he was offered a two-year deal despite seeming to be on the outer for so much of 2023.

De Koning has shown he can drift forward to play as a marking forward but has kicked only seven goals from 16 games this year and was goalless against Sydney.

“I think for us even on the weekend we played two rucks and Tom De Koning has some important moments late in the game playing as a forward,” Walsh said.

“We have the capacity to go taller or smaller depending on what the coaches want to do

Vossy said to us it‘s the squad that wins finals, not just a team of 22.”

Blues fight Martin ban with eye to prelim

– Jay Clark

Carlton will contest Jack Martin’s two-game ban at the tribunal in a bid to at least downgrade his suspension to one match.

The Blues confirmed on Sunday they will fight the two-match striking charge which could sideline the forward for a semi-final and preliminary final.

Martin hit Sydney’s Nick Blakey with a swinging right hand which sent Blakey off the ground in Friday night’s elimination final for a SCAT5 concussion check.

It meant the match review officer graded the incident as careless conduct, high contact and high impact, banning him for two matches.

But with not much to lose, Carlton will argue the impact was medium at worst in an effort to downgrade the suspension to one match, potentially clearing him to play in a preliminary final the following week if the Blues topple Melbourne on Friday night at the MCG.

The winner of that game plays Brisbane at the Gabba.

Nick Blakey after the Martin hit. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Carlton has had some success downgrading suspensions at the tribunal this year, including Harry McKay’s hit on North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel on Good Friday.

Martin has been in excellent form late in the season and is an important player for the Blues, with McKay set to miss the semi-final against Melbourne on Friday night with concussion.