THREE generations. One club.
A Navy Blue legacy.
The Silvagni family will be further etched in football folklore on Thursday night, with Jack Silvagni confirmed to play his 100th AFL game.
In doing so, it’s the first time that three generations in the same family will have played a century of games for the same club.
While Carlton’s full team will be confirmed tomorrow night, Silvagni’s spot in the team is locked in, joining grandfather Sergio and father Stephen on the No.1 locker in the process.
The histrionics with the sense of the occasion will be there for all to see in the lead-up to the game, but Silvagni - speaking to Carlton Media - said he’s keen to let it play out like any normal game . . . for now, at least.
“It’s pretty special,” Silvagni admitted.
“It’s a nice individual accolade and something I’ll look back pretty fondly on at the end of my career, having my name on the locker alongside Dad and Nonno.
“Having said that, I’m trying to keep a lid on everything and keep all preparations for the game as per normal.”
The first of the Silvagni family to pull on the Carlton jumper, Sergio debuted back in 1958, pulling on the guernsey on 239 occasions on his way to two premierships, two best-and-fairest awards, the Club captaincy in 1964 and featuring in the Blues’ Team of the Century and as an official Hall of Fame Legend.
Stephen debuted in 1985, matching his dad’s two premierships and best-and-fairest awards in a glittering 312-game career. A member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame and also a Carlton Legend, Silvagni is the full back in both the Carlton and VFL/AFL Teams of the Century.
Jack’s first game came back in Round 15 of the 2016 season, debuting against Collingwood to much fanfare in the long-sleeved Navy Blue guernsey worn with distinction by two generations before him.
Swapping the No.2 guernsey for the family’s No.1 leading into year two (after some convincing from predecessor Andrew Walker), Silvagni has been a regular face in Carlton’s lineup ever since.
After playing game one against Collingwood and his 50th against Essendon, Silvagni will now ton up against another traditional rival in Richmond — the same team who Jack ran out alongside Stephen with for the latter’s 300th game in 2001.
“I understand with the family history and everything — it’s [the milestone] is probably something they’ll enjoy at the time more than I will,” he said.
“My mind is obviously elsewhere and focused on the game, but I think once all is said and done, I’ll be able to talk with them and look back through it all.
“It’ll be pretty cool.”
