Michael Voss ‘comfortable’ with talks on Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni

Carlton coach Michael Voss has discussed the futures of an uncontracted pair as a key tall is assessed ahead of the Dockers clash.

Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning is a chance to face the Dockers on Sunday night. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

Carlton coach Michael Voss is “comfortable” with where talks sit with Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni as the uncontracted pair prepares to lead the Blues in the ruck against Fremantle.

De Koning will need to prove his fitness at training on Friday before he is ticked off to fly to Perth, where a battle looms with Dockers duo Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson that could significantly alter his market value in either direction.

Silvagni was named on the extended bench for the clash, but Voss declared him a certain starter following his stellar performance as a forward-ruck against Hawthorn in which he gathered 17 disposals, 12 hit-outs and a goal.

Voss refused to say whether the 25-year-old was part of his future plans but insisted he was “comfortable” with how talks were progressing with the father-son selection and De Koning.

“I’m not going to talk about the list today … it’s something that gets dealt with in the background – I’ll focus on coaching the team and trying to get the best out of them,” Voss said.

Uncontracted ruckman Tom De Koning will face the Dockers if passed fit on Friday, with coach Michael Voss ‘comfortable’ with how talks are progressing over his future. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

“We’re comfortable with where things sit currently in terms of where the guys are contracted and talks.

“I guess we let list management play that out, but right now we’re just really happy with the performance he’s delivered on the weekend and some of the other boys with the way they’re playing.”

David Cuningham had a direct hand in four goals in the 60-point win over Hawthorn, with Voss praising the difference created by him, Jack Martin and Lachie Fogarty after coming into the side in the last month. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

The Blues coach said first-choice ruckman Marc Pittonet was a chance to face the Power in round 18 after his knee injury was tested earlier in the week, while he said luckless defender Caleb Marchbank had pulled up well after his long-awaited VFL return.

Voss said Blake Acres had offered some useful tactical insight as the wingman prepared for his first game against his former club and expected the 27-year-old to handle the opposition attention well after already having the experience when he left St Kilda at the end of 2019.

Voss said the Blues’ form over the past two games had been “really pleasing”, crediting a trio of half-forward inclusions in Lachlan Fogarty and injury-ravaged duo David Cuningham and Jack Martin with some of the improvement in the forward half.

“They’ve been the three that have come in and just changed what our forward line looked like, and they’ve all had an impact, which is really pleasing to see,” Voss said.

“Particularly with Cunners and Jack, they’ve had some challenges with their bodies to get them to where they needed to be, but to see how they’ve translated that to the difference they’ve made to us in the front half has been pretty significant.”

Originally published as Michael Voss ‘comfortable’ with talks on Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni