AFL 2023: Carlton chief executive Brian Cook on Harry McKay, Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning’s new deal

Tom De Koning has re-signed, but what does the future hold for Jack Silvagni? And could Ben McKay really jump ship? Blues chief Brian Cook addresses the club’s list strategy.

Tom De Koning of the Blues.

Carlton is happy to make Jack Silvagni wait without a contract offer as the Blues shoot down talk injured forward Harry McKay could be traded at the end of the season.

A string of key Blues have recommitted to the club in recent weeks, led by the signing of much-discussed tall Tom De Koning, who rebuffed lucrative offers elsewhere to stay at Ikon Park for two more years.

But Silvagni, who has enjoyed a strong season thrown around between the ruck and forward and is now nursing an injured knee, was not one of the re-signed players.

Carlton chief executive Brian Cook said there was no rush to lock him away, consigning Sivagni, 25, to a pile of out-of-contracted players he marked with a “W” for “wait”.

Jack Silvagni will be out of contract at the end of the year. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“I think it is safe to say we are comfortable in our list management strategy, we have contracted eight players in the past three weeks so we have been quite determined to get a few over the line,” Cook, who on Friday announced a five-year extension of Carlton’s partnership with La Trobe University, said.

“We are limiting the number of uncontracted players, that is true and (the list of uncontracted players) includes Silvagni but we will have to see how the next month or two unfolds. There are so many options and they all depend on each other, there are layers to this.”

Silvagni sits alongside regular first-choice Blues in David Cuningham, Lachie Fogarty and Mitch McGovern as out-of-contract at the end of the season, while midfielder Paddy Dow is widely tipped to move to a new club.

Injured goalkicker McKay will not be out of contract until 2030 and has been the topic of speculation whether he should be traded to create room both in the salary cap and in the forward line for Charlie Curnow to operate.

The Blues say Harry McKay is going nowhere. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

While Sydney has been thrown up as a potential landing spot, Cook said Carlton had no interest in moving the Coleman medallist and declared: “he is going nowhere”.

Cook also backed embattled president Luke Sayers to lead the club into the future, despite the former PwC chief executive being swept up in the scandal round the firm.

Cook said Sayers was still operating as a normal president and part of decision making, with no plans for him to change his duties.

“Luke is the president until at least the end of next year and he has been performing that role wonderfully and at 100 per cent diligence,” he said.

“As far as we are concerned, he is our president until the end of next year and he will be performing as our president until at least then.”

De Koning’s $5 million sacrifice to stay a Blue

– Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane

Carlton has secured the signature of young emerging tall Tom De Koning as he rejected millions of dollars in guaranteed money to back himself as a star of the future.

As the Herald Sun revealed on Thursday, De Koning will be a Carlton player for the next two seasons.

Final negotiations between his manager Robbie D’Orazio and Blues list boss Nick Austin proceeded smoothly on Thursday to allow the Blues to announce his signature before Friday night’s blockbuster against Collingwood.

The Blues had been prepared to offer De Koning around $600,000 a season until 2025 as talks stalled when he battled concussion and form issues.

De Koning, 24, said his connection to his teammates and the club played a massive part in convincing him the right decision was to stay with the Blues.

“When I was making my decision it came down to the two most important things; the people and the environment. This football club gives you everything you need as a player in that regard,” De Koning said.

“The relationships I have with my teammates are special, I don’t take them for granted. I get to put on a Carlton jumper with my mates and run out in front of an incredible fan base every single week – you couldn’t ask for anything more than that.”

“The support the entire football club provides really makes this an elite environment, and I’m excited to play my role in helping us go after success for years to come.”

Tom De Koning competes against Jeremy Finlayson. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Carlton head of list management Nick Austin said: “Tom continually impresses with his aerial craft and has really shown consistency in his form. His athleticism is clear but his skillset is still developing, not only as a ruck but also as a forward, which is exciting for our side over the coming years.”

“Since arriving at the end of 2017, he has grown so much under the guidance of ruck coach and former teammate Matthew Kreuzer. He has adapted really well to the rigours of the game and the position he plays.

“What we love about Tom is that he is a really positive and upbeat person who continually looks out for his teammates both on and off the field.

“Still just 24 years of age, we cannot wait to see him grow and further develop his craft and we are excited to see what he can do in Navy Blue over the next few years.”

That deal was boosted as he rewarded coach Michael Voss’s faith with strong ruck performances while No.1 ruckman Marc Pittonet was injured.

Pittonet will return from a PCL issue and a week in the VFL to build fitness as Voss made clear on Thursday he was an automatic selection.

De Koning’s decision to stick with the Blues means he has knocked back deals as long as eight years at Sydney, which could have secured him more than $800,000 per season.

That means in effect he has given up around $5 million in guaranteed money to back himself in to recoup that money in the long run while remaining at the club he genuinely loves.

But signing a deal through to free agency will allow him to secure a bumper deal when he turns 26 – either with Carlton or a rival side.

The Herald Sun reported earlier this month that free agent Jack Silvagni is yet to be offered a new deal by Carlton as the club works through his future with his manager.

What does the future hold for Jack Silvagni? Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos

Silvagni and the Blues had been happy to assess his progress throughout the season before negotiations.

It allowed him to assess whether he would like a fresh start elsewhere – if another club came up with a better offer.

And it has given the Blues time to assess Silvagni’s worth in a complicated season of list decisions, with De Koning, Paddy Dow, Mitch McGovern, Caleb Marchbank and Lachie Plowman among the players coming out of contract this year.

Silvagni had again showed himself to be an integral part of the Blues’ team before a jarred knee last week against West Coast which could end his home-and-away season.

His future remains uncertain given De Koning will presumably play a forward-ruck role if Pittonet – who signed a four-year deal earlier this season – remains free from injury in the coming years.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Carlton chief executive Brian Cook on Harry McKay, Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning’s new deal