WHEN dad Stephen was playing in Carlton’s last Grand Final in 1999, Jack Silvagni - who was not yet two years old - was too young to remember it. 

The third-generation Blue admits that when he was growing up he was “starved of success a bit”.

So now, the opportunity to play in front of capacity Navy Blue crowds and bring Carlton’s supporter base along for the ride is something he truly treasures. 

It hasn’t always come easy for Silvagni, who played in just 15 wins in his first five seasons as he toiled between the AFL and VFL sides. Now an ever-present figure in the team with a unique role that has recorded 10 wins from 15 games, it’s no surprise that Silvagni is smiling. 

08:42

Jack Silvagni joins the 'On the Couch' team

Jack Silvagni joined Garry Lyon, Nick Riewoldt and Nathan Buckley to talk about his career so far. Footage courtesy of Fox Footy.

Speaking On The Couch with FOX Footy on Monday night, Silvagni stated that pulling on the Navy Blue jumper - and the No.1, no less - is the only thing he ever envisaged himself doing.

“It was all I grew up with: it’s always what I wanted to do… it is a dream and I’m very lucky to be able to live it out,” Silvagni said.

“I was lucky that I grew up with the history of the Club, so I knew how proud it was and how big it was and what it meant to all the supporters. 

“But now, to be part of that, giving back to them and what they’ve missed out on for so long — it’s something I’m most proud of.”

01:19

AFL R9 | Silvagni's big moments help lift Blues

Watch some of the best highlights from Jack Silvagni in the Round 9 win over the Giants.

Borne out of necessity in the back-end of last season, Silvagni has flourished in the last 12 months with his capacity to provide some ruck relief on top of his role as the third tall in Carlton’s forward mix.

It’s something which allows the 24-year-old - who is eight games shy of joining his father and grandfather on the locker - to get back to what he does better than most.

In his early years, Silvagni found himself dwelling on the stat sheet. Now, the intangibles form the foundation of his game.

“My form probably wasn’t where I wanted it to be and I was in and out of the side. I was probably at a bit of a loss with how I was applying myself and where I best fit,” he said.

“Getting back to that hunger and the nitty-gritty stuff, if you base your game off that rather than stats then it’s an easier thing to measure.

“A lot of the time, the outside world can get caught up in the pretty numbers, but at the end of the day it’s what goes on inside the four walls.

“It’s hard work in [the ruck], but I’ve just got to scrap… If I can continue to play the rest of my career that way, it’ll look after itself.”