Jack Silvagni showed impressive signs and set a solid platform in his VFL debut for the Northern Blues on Saturday afternoon.
Silvagni finished with 12 disposals and two important goals against Port Melbourne at Preston City Oval, playing exclusively up forward for the Blues.
Northern were ultimately unsuccessful, as the Borough outclassed the Blues and were too consistent across four quarters to prevail by 19 points.
After missing the opening two matches with a niggling hamstring injury, Silvagni said it was a relief to be back out on the park.
“It was great, I’m just happy to be back out on the field again, it’s been a bit annoying and disappointing but it was good to get a run,” Silvagni said.
“I sort of forgot it was my first game after pre-season, it’s always good to get on the board but now it’s about moving onto the next one.”
Jack Silvagni takes a breather during his Northern Blues debut. (Photo: Jason Heidrich)
The Blues rallied from a 34-point half-time deficit to get within less than a goal on two occasions in the final term, before late goals from Port iced the game.
It was a disappointing outcome in the end for the Blues, who were looking to overturn a six-year winless run against one of their traditional rivals.
Silvagni said the Blues were pleased by the endeavour they showed late in the game, but the match would be viewed as a missed opportunity.
“I thought the boys showed a lot of heart, one quarter let us down but we’ll bounce back and it’s about giving a four-quarter effort now,” Silvagni said.
“The second quarter is something we addressed after the game, it really let us down: had we just been a bit tighter with our method and systems we could’ve got one over them.
“It’s something we’ll talk about again as a club and bounce back next week against Collingwood.”
Silvagni continued to work into the game with nine of his disposals coming in the second half as a brave Blues outfit rallied to nearly come away with the victory.
Perhaps most pleasingly, the father-son recruit collected six disposals and kicked a goal in the last term when the game was firmly in the balance: a point not lost on Northern Blues senior coach Josh Fraser.
“SOS got better after half-time, I guess as you’d expect of someone coming back from injury he worked his way into the game,” Fraser said post-match.
“I think at times he, along with the other forwards, weren’t really helped by the way we used the ball going forward.
“He’s certainly got some real talent and some upside and I think it’s clear to see that he’s only going to get better and better.”
The Northern Blues have the chance to square the ledger next week at Preston City Oval, when they host Collingwood on Saturday from 2pm. Jo Silvagni will be a special guest speaker at the club’s Ladies Day function, commencing from 12pm.
