Jack Silvagni has reportedly met with another Victorian rival senior coach as the pursuit for his services continues to heat up.
Meanwhile, it’s currently a three-club race for a Brisbane premiership defender.
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BOMBERS JOIN SILVAGNI RACE
Essendon’s Brad Scott has become the latest rival coach to meet with in-demand Carlton free agent Jack Silvagni, reports Herald Sun chief football writer Jay Clark on Wednesday.
Collingwood premiership mentor Craig McRae revealed he’d met with the Blues’ forward-turned-defender, with the Western Bulldogs also thought to be interested — and now the Bombers are in the conversation.
Clark reports Scott met with Silvagni at his eastern suburbs home last week as the third-generation Blue continues to contemplate his playing future, but he adds that the Bombers are ‘yet to fully commit’ to a contract offer.
Both Carlton and Collingwood are believed to be offering four-year deals at around $650,000 a season, thus Silvagni’s decision is clearly coming down to his environment.
Defensive depth is evidently on Essendon’s shopping list, with crucial backmen Jordan Ridley, Zach Reid and Ben McKay having each struggled with staying injury-free recently.
Silvagni himself has been shelved with injury but before that had been showing promise as an intercept defender, with the capability also to go forward.
The Magpies are still considered frontrunners to secure Silvagni’s services, with the 27-year-old having a close relationship with 2024 Pies acquisition Dan Houston.
On Wednesday night, Seven’s Mitch Cleary reported the Bulldogs are expected to soon schedule a meeting of their own with Silvagni.
Under-fire Blues coach Michael Voss recently said of retaining the father-son gun: “I want to be really clear; he’s a very important player for us. We’re certainly hoping he plays out the rest of his career with us … Jack’s had a really important role shift this year. It’s been a real win for us to see where he’s gone from forward to back.”
Given he holds unrestricted free agent status, Silvagni can walk from the Blues without resistance at the end of the season and sign elsewhere.
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THREE-CLUB RACE FOR LION
North Melbourne is believed to be one of multiple clubs “circling” free agent Brisbane defender Brandon Starcevich, who continues to weigh his playing future.
The Kangaroos, understandably in search of defensive reinforcement amid another campaign in which they’ve struggled stemming opposition attacks, join Essendon — which reportedly has “strong” interest — and West Coast, with Starcevich hailing from Western Australia.
“He’s been assessing his options after returning to Brisbane’s side in recent weeks … the Lions would like to retain him; they’ve tabled a deal for him to stay, but he has interest from clubs around the country,” said journalist Riley Beveridge on AFL Media’s Gettable.
“Notably in Victoria, Essendon has strong interest, as does North Melbourne; another club that has circled Brandon Starcevich … West Coast also has some interest in Starcevich.”
The 26-year-old has had his struggles with concussion but is back in Brisbane’s side — having played in its past seven games — as it shapes another tilt at a premiership.
Starcevich remains an integral cog in the Lions’ back half alongside Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner, with Jack Payne struck down for the year and former Crow Tom Doedee still yet to make his club debut.
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