VERSATILE utility Jack Silvagni is looking forward to a big eighth season with the Blues, participating in his most complete pre-season to date. 

Having often frequented the rehab group following post-season surgery, Silvagni charged through the pre-season unscathed after an injury-free end to 2022.

Because of the preparation and longevity his body has given him, Silvagni is feeling confident and excited ahead of the 2023 season. 

“I’ve been able to have a full pre-season without post-season surgery for the first time in five or six years, which is good,” Silvagni said. 

“I feel fit, the body is feeling good and if I need to do some ruck work at some stage this year, I will.” 

Having pitched in the ruck last year, it’s not where Silvagni sees himself spending the majority of his time, with a solid group developing under the leadership of Matthew Kreuzer. 

Admitting he will probably spend most of the game playing in the forward line to go with pinch-hitting in the ruck, Silvagni is keen to work further up the ground and put his pre-season fitness base to the test. 

Silvagni noted that he would be happy to play any position Michael Voss and the coaches see fit – he just wants to be playing football at the highest level. 

“I think it looks like it will be forward again – I'll play third wheel to Harry [McKay] and Charlie [Curnow] and let them go about their business,” he said.

“I like it up there – I can use my run and I’ll be able to get up the ground a bit.

“I’ll just play wherever as long as I’m picked.”

This pre-season has felt like no other to Silvagni — not only because of his injury-free run, but because of the intensity in training the Blues have been subject to. 

Completing a brutal training camp on the Sunshine Coast in early February, Silvagni admitted it was the hardest he has trained in his career at Carlton. 

“It’s been the toughest pre-season I’ve had in terms of volume and time out on the track,” he said. 

“We had a really tough camp two or three weeks ago and it was easily the hardest couple of sessions I’ve done in my eight years.”