Jack Silvagni

Career : 2016 - 2025
Debut : Round 15, 2016 vs Collingwood, aged 18 years, 195 days
Carlton Player No. 1176
Games : 128
Goals : 89
Last Game : Round 16, 2025 vs Port Adelaide, aged 27 years, 191 days
Guernsey Nos. 2 (2016) and 1 (2017 - 2025)
Height : 191 cm (6 ft. 3 in.)
Weight : 83 kg (13 stone, 1 lb.)
DOB : December 17, 1997

When Carlton drafted Jack Silvagni with the club’s fifth selection (no. 53) in the 2015 National Draft, the joy reverberated around Princes Park and across the country. The eldest son of Stephen Silvagni, and grandson of Sergio Silvagni, 18-year old Jack was born to play for the Navy Blues.

From his earliest years, Jack had been steeped in the history and traditions of the club where Serge and Stephen both forged magnificent careers. Serge played in two Premiership teams for the Blues, as well as captaining and coaching the club. Stephen also won two flags, on the way to being recognised as the greatest full-back of the 20th century.

With such a pedigree, Jack started his AFL journey well-prepared, although the weight of expectation was immense. Well aware of the pressures that would inevitably build on the youngster when and if he followed Serge and Stephen to Carlton, the Silvagni family had kept Jack grounded and his progress deliberately low-key.

“Mum and Dad always told me that it is family, school and football, in that order,” he said during an interview on draft day. “When the interleague and development squads were on and the Oakleigh Chargers first came knocking, Dad made a decision to keep me out of it,” he said. “I wasn’t overly happy at the time, but it was the right idea, because I wasn’t big enough.” Grandfather Sergio agreed, “He’s as skinny as anything — he needs to muscle up. But I’m looking forward to following him.”

While completing his VCE studies at Xavier College, Jack eventually joined the Chargers, where his versatility, aerial ability and sure hands saw him selected for representative honours with the Vic Metro squad in the Under-18 National Championships. Although he had primarily played in defence, he was switched forward in the match against WA and kicked six goals.

His coach that day – former Blue Mick Stinear – said afterwards, “He’s probably one of the smartest footballers I’ve come across. He has a really good footy brain and understands the game really well. He’s very good with his hands, very clever by foot. With his footy smarts, awareness and positioning he’s well ahead of a lot of others at that age level. He’s only had one year at TAC Cup level and a few championship games but he’s going to develop very quickly and will still need a couple of years to master his craft. I see him being dangerous at both ends of the ground. It’ll be his speed that will be the factor that determines how successful he is.”

Some four months into the 2016 season, Jack made his senior debut for Carlton on an emotion-charged Saturday night in round 15, when the Blues lost to traditional rivals Collingwood at the MCG. It was Andrew Walker’s 200th match, and the team wore black armbands to honour the recent passing of 1947 Premiership player Allan Greenshields. The main drawcard for Blues fans however, was to see the latest generation of Carlton royalty in action for the first time, and Jack didn’t disappoint. Playing forward, he set up an early goal for Jed Lamb with an accurate pass, and finished the game with 15 disposals, 6 marks and four inside-50 entries. Late in the final quarter, he should have kicked his first career goal after a strong mark in the right forward pocket, but instead short-passed to Bryce Gibbs, who missed with his shot from 30 metres out.

A week later, during the second quarter of the Blues’ heavy loss to Adelaide at the MCG, Jack wrapped up an opponent with a strong tackle in Carlton’s left forward pocket. Awarded a free-kick right on the boundary line, he threaded the ball between the posts to open his account, accompanied by an enormous roar from an excited crowd. From then on he played in all of Carlton’s remaining matches, and finished an excellent debut year with 7 goals from 8 games.

A strong 2017 followed with 19 goals and a Rising Star Nomination, before a tougher 2018 year followed - not just for 'JSOS' but for the whole team. Struggling to find space as a half forward, Silvagni spent time in the midfield and deep in defence.

Footnotes

Sergio and Stephen Silvagni both wore guernsey number 1 in their illustrious careers for the Blues. However, when Jack was recruited, Andrew Walker was still carrying it with distinction in what turned out to be his final year. Jack settled for number 2 in 2016, but at Walker's insistence, switched to the "family number" ahead of his second season.

Jack's younger briother Ben Silvagni was recruited in the 2018 National Draft at pick 70.

Alex Silvagni is Jack's father Stephen second cousin and therefore Jack's second cousin once removed.

Jack’s junior football club was Greythorn.

Milestones

50 Games: Round 11, 2019 vs Essendon
50 Goals: Round 10, 2021 vs Hawthorn
100 Games: Round 1, 2023 vs Richmond.

Links

Blueseum: A summary of Silvagni's playing career | Carlton Granddads

Gallery

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  Bound By Blue Jack Silvagni Image courtesy of Carlton Football Club.
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  Jack Silvagni Faces The Media On Draft NightImage courtesy of AFL Media.
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  Jack Silvagni Takes A Strong Grab For Vic Metro Vs WA. Image courtesy of AFL Media.
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  Jack SilvagniImage courtesy of AFL Media.
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  Stephen And Jack Silvagni 2001Image courtesy of the Herald Sun.
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  Jack Silvagni At Pre Season Training 2016Image courtesy of Carlton Football Club.
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  Jack Silvagni 2016Image courtesy of News Corp.
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  Jack Silvagni 2017Image courtesy of Carlton Media.
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  2017 Rnd 12 v Gold Coast Suns Jack Silvagni 2017 Rnd 12 v Gold Coast Suns Jack Silvagni Herald - Sun June 18 News Corp image
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  2017 Jack Silvagni Rnd 3 v Essendon 2017 Jack Silvagni Rnd 3 v Essendon CFC image
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  2017 Jack Silvagni Rnd 3 v Essendon 2017 Jack Silvagni Rnd 3 v Essendon Image: Michael Willson AFL media
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  2015 VMFL - Jack Silvagni
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  2015 VMFL - Jack Silvagni bags six goals.
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  2018 - Jack Silvagni.
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  2018 - Jack & Ben Silvagni.
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  2019 - Jack Silvagni flies for a grab at training.
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  2019 - The Silvagni Boys.
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  2019 - Jack Silvagni signs on for another two seasons.
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  2019 - Silvagni Dynasty.
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  2020 - Ben and Jack Silvagni at training.
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  2019 - Ben and Jack Silvagni wrestle.
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  2021 - Jack Silvagni; Then & Now.
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  2021 - Jack Silvagni signs on again for the Blues.
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  2021 Rd 18 - Jack Silvagni honours the passing of Serge.
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  2022 - Jack Silvagni.
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  2022 - Jack Silvagni montage.
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  2022 Rd 3 - Jack Silvagni.
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  2022 - Practice Match; Jack Silvagni at a centre bounce.
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  2022 Rd 13 - Jack Silvagni.
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  2015 - Future Blue; Jack Silvagni.
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  2015 - Future Blue; Jack Silvagni.
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  2023 - Jack Silvagni.
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  Jack Silvagni.