Carlton Supporters Club

It's probably a perception...the hate thing.
I love Stephen Silvagni. (in a supporter type of adoration )
He's one of my favourite players.
I have no problem with his actions during the salary cap situation.
He behaved a bit better than some of the others involved.
I've been waiting for his sons to come of age since they were born...to continue the family traditions.
I was wrapped when Jack was drafted...and have been looking forward to Ben because he was supposedly a better player.

But...unless he's being cleverly placed in hiding, Ben has not shown the form that would have him as a priority in terms of our drafting and if things fall into place we mightn't have too many picks left at the bottom of the draft to use on him.
A rookie spot...maybe.

Even Nathan managed a premiership.

I would have said he has shown a heck of a lot more than Jack ever did at drafting stage.....? End of the day, the Club wil talk to the kid (as no doubt will his Dad separate;y and rightly so) and determine whether he wants it enough....

Which games were those performances in?

I've no problem accepting his value if someone can show me where to see it.

Jack kicked six in a State game...a performance like that will do me

Lods, that was basically a one off against an injury decimated squad!

That very game created a unrealistic expectation of SoJ from fans!

The fact he is a Silvagni gives him X factor, hope that he could be the real deal......my mine gripe when I have watched him is his lethargic, laconic approach...intensity isnt his strong point and he only really gets firing if there is a mark of the day opportunity.

There is also some talk/rumour that he doesnt have the dedication that Jack has or the other senior Silvagni's...rumour only....

The importance of a good VFL is demonstrated by the fact that AFL finalists Rich, Filth, Haw, Geel and Melb all have their VFL sides in finals also. Kind of makes our rise up the ladder look even tougher and further away.

Nathan Ablett and Jack have precisely zero to do with recruiting Ben.

They are perfect comparisons.

SoJ shows the difference good attitude can make in the absence of pure ability, nobody doubts his desire, effort or commitment to training and the contest. If he was a couple of yards faster he'd be a god send for Carlton!

Nathan Ablett shows what indifference does to performance, because despite having sheds loads of natural ability and athleticism he bombed under the scrutiny AFL brings!

FWIW, Nathan Ablett's trajectory into AFL very closely mirrors Ben Silvagni! Both of them had been lauded at U16 level, both of them were early growers and tall relative to their peers, both of them showed indifference or inconsistency at development level!

I'm not a critic or a zealot, but I think it's fair people ask those questions in the absence of clear and unambiguous performances that prove otherwise! For me personally, I only have two things to go on, some indirect positive feedback from one of his junior coaches, and then a noticeable lack of performance in subsequent games at a higher level.

The difference may be that had Nathan not won a flag he might have continued.

People have different aspirations.

Once he won his premiership he might have changed his mindset.  I'll haippily accept a retirement post a premiership.

Yet it seems like claiming to have "climbed Mt Everest" after having been carried all the way by Sherpas!