2022 Player Preview | #1 Jack Silvagni
Written by Ari Stamatakos
Throughout the 2022 Pre-season, Blue Abroad will be providing content to cover everything you need to know about the Carlton Football Club. For what should be an exciting and intriguing 2022, let's take an in-depth look at all players on the Carlton list and preview their 2022 season. #1 Jack Silvagni
2022 Preview
In 2021, Jack Silvagni proved to be a ‘Jack of all trades.’ Being that constant threat up forward, pinch-hitting in the ruck, and thus by association, being a more than a competent midfielder. David Teague was very reliant on him to plug and hole that was present in the Carlton side at the time. He lacked consistency and continuity throughout his season, struggling with injuries and being shoved in makeshift positions through the course of the season. Under the coach, hopefully, SOS can find his feet in a proper position and remain relatively injury-free in order to build that much-needed confidence to elevate his game to the next level.
Let's look at his game from a forward perspective. Voss is most likely not going to continue with the three key forward systems that Teague was playing with this side, so that means Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow will be the two key pillars. This leaves SOS to play as that mid-sized pressure forward with an eye for a goal, akin to the role Garry Rohan plays at Geelong. He has all the tools to play this position to an absolute tee. Both mentally and physically he is more than adequate, as well as having the experience in playing this position previously. Last season SOS averaged 4.7 marks per game, further displaying that he has the forward craft necessary to be a real asset as the third forward.
Now, looking at his game in a different role. Last season we saw that he could pinch-hit in the ruck. However, his ruck craft during those games was not very good, so that avenue shouldn't be one where we go in a hurry. However, what he did show was a real ability to play as a midfielder. As he didn’t win the hit outs very often, he showed great anticipation to read the ball off the ruckman’s tap and the hunger to get in and under the contest. We all remember what he did to Nathan Fyfe in 2019, essentially tagging the superstar out of the game in the second half of their second encounter. He has the engine to play in the midfield and can act as that bigger body should the game get scrappy. He did also show that he can find the ball, averaging 17.5 touches in the 5 games he played as a ruckman. Should he focus on being a sole midfielder, those numbers will rise to those low-mid-twenties, proving to be a real threat.
The Best-Case Scenario
The best-case scenario, on a base level, is for SOS to stay fit. He has struggled with injuries in recent years and has finally got a good run at it, so he needs to keep this good run going. We all know that he has the talent, and he has shown that he is one of the very few players who will put in 100% effort every single week. Whether he plays as a forward or as a midfielder, the best-case scenario for SOS is to play very good football on a constant level. He isn't the type of player where certain numbers or metrics are a barometer for success, it's his impact and the level of influence that he has on the team that is the most important thing.
Status Heading Into 2022
Consistent Starting 22
