Fresh twist as fight for Carlton free agent Jack Silvagni becomes ‘personal'
Silvagni, a third generation Blue, is a free agent this year and reportedly weighing up an offer from Carlton's oldest rivals, Collingwood.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jack Silvagni saga takes fresh twist.
The Age reported on Monday night that the Magpies' offer is a four-year deal, which is nearly identical to what the Blues are offering.
The 27-year-old, who missed the entire 2024 season with a knee injury, is arguably having the best season of his career after making the switch to defence.
He has also endeared himself to Blues fans for his willingness to fight and compete in a season that has fallen well below expectations.
Silvagni has recently been sidelined with a groin injury and is no certainty to play another game this year.
As the defender weighs up his future, Carlton boss Graham Wright has stepped up his efforts to keep him in Navy Blue with a likely increased offer coming, according to Channel 7's Caroline Wilson.
'It's become personal. It's become personal for the Carlton board and for the Carlton membership,' Wilson said on The Agenda Setters.
'Yesterday, I think the realisation from Graham Wright that this was becoming a major issue and that Jack mightn't realise just how much he is wanted at Carlton, prompted Graham Wright to get in touch with Jack Silvagni.
'They had a long conversation. I think Graham Wright is genuinely concerned for Jack. He would know that this would be something that is absolutely tearing him into about what he's going to do.
'For some people, this would just be unthinkable.'
But there's also a 'personal' element for Wright due to his fallout with Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly and list manager Justin Leppitsch.
Wright was previously football manager at the Pies, but had a messy departure amid reports of a rift with Kelly.
'And it's personal, too, it must be said, and I'm putting words in their mouths, but the fallout between Graham Wright and his former housemate and premiership teammate, Craig Kelly, is immeasurable,' Wilson continued.
'They haven't spoken since Graham Wright left Collingwood. Graham Wright also fell out with the Collingwood list manager in Justin Leppitsch.
'Now, these two guys are making a big play with the manager, Tom Petroro, who is great mates with all three of these big, high-flying executives, and very, very close with all of them. And, in fact, manages Justin Leppitsch.
'So, I think Jack Silvagni is genuinely torn now. And I think if he felt maybe a few weeks ago that Carlton weren't really pulling out all stops to keep him, I think that Graham Wright has now left him in no uncertain terms how much Carlton rate him and want him.'
Former teammate and close friend Dale Thomas added that the Collingwood offer definitely sparked the Blues into action, but also raised the interest of other rival teams.
'At that point, I think Graham Wright really went, right is this, for the first time, something we have to seriously consider and make sure it is known to Jack Silvagni how wanted he is by this football club,' he said.
'Not just by the members, but also how loved he is internally and how valued he is actually as a player. Take away the romance of the father-son and everything like that.
'But the next part is, in making some phone calls today and ringing around other Melbourne clubs. Today, now that the door has been left ajar a little bit, there's other Melbourne clubs that are going 'OK, we're sensing opportunity here, there's a chance that we may be able to pry him out and it's not just Collingwood now that are in the running to try and secure his signature.'
But Thomas added that Silvagni doesn't owe Carlton anything after a rollercoaster career to date that has seen him dropped multiple times and thrown around the park in different positions.
'If I'm Jack Silvagni, I'm sitting there going, well, 'why do I stay? What do I actually owe this club?'
'He's been last in, first out so many times. He's been played as a forward, then been put in the ruck, put the shin pad on, used as a tagger, and then settled down back.
'The fans are in such uproar because they know when they come to footy and they see Jack Silvagni run out for their football side, he's bringing maximum effort. He plays with the heart and soul that you want in a footballer.
'And now he's got a skill set. He's been given a position that he's locked down. He's become one of the premium defenders in the comp.'
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