St Kilda are “ready to pull the rug out” from underneath Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs with a reported offer of $4 million for Jack Silvagni. The Carlton star has told the club he’s leaving, and the Magpies were initially viewed as the front-runners to get him.
The Western Bulldogs also entered the equation, but St Kilda have now emerged as the leader of the pack. Speaking on SEN radio over the weekend, leading journalist Sam Edmund said there’s a belief in AFL circles that the Saints could get Silvagni.
“The industry has been buzzing for many weeks that the Saints were ready to pull the rug out from underneath the Dogs and the Pies,” Edmund said. “Whether Jack Silvagni reunites with his dad Steve at St Kilda. Remembering that was the reason why Carlton did not recontract Stephen Silvagni due to the complexities around managing a list with his sons on it. Now St Kilda are going to go down that path it would appear potentially.”
Ross Lyon (R) and St Kilda appear set to deliver a blow to Collingwood and Craig McRae (L). Image: Getty
Stephen Silvagni was once the list-manager at Carlton, but was let go due to concerns around managing his sons Jack and Ben. He’s since moved to the Saints and has refused to return to the Blues in any capacity ever since.
Jack Silvagni has a big decision to make. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
St Kilda’s $4 million offer for Jack Silvagni
On Channel 9 on Sunday night, Tom Morris revealed the Saints have offered Silvagni around $800,000 per season for five years. However father Stephen hasn’t been part of the process to avoid any conflicts.
“St Kilda’s interest in him has only really ramped up in the last few days,” Morris said. “The Dogs were confident but they’re not so confident anymore. I think St Kilda’s offer – according to rival clubs – is somewhere between $800,000-$850,000 a year times five.”
Morris said the total offer of $4 million could actually land Carlton Band 1 compensation. “Wouldn’t that be an amazing thing if they could get Band 1 for Tom De Koning and Band 1 for Jack Silvagni,” he said. “I think he’ll meet with St Kilda in the next few days and do a medical. It’s a matter of whether he wants to go to Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs or St Kilda.”
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Silvagni’s signature would be another major coup for Ross Lyon and the Saints. They’ve already re-signed Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera on a two-year deal worth $4 million, and are expected to get De Koning from Carlton for around $1.7m per season.
But former Bulldogs and Essendon star Adam Cooney questioned what the big-money deals might do to the club’s culture. “I just worry what happens culture-wise with this group going forward – the pursuits of half a dozen players that are all going to be on massive money,” he said on SEN.
“Is (Nas) going to perform the same level next year as he did this year? Is Tom De Koning going to come in and be a $1.7m player? If Wanganeen-Milera drops off next year, if De Koning doesn’t play a lot better footy than he did at Carlton and other guys jump to that elite level.
“I just wonder where it leaves that in terms of culture and jealousy with other players earning so much. I like what they are doing with this, but it does leave the possibility of upsetting the culture of the club within the group.”