‘We’re very pleased’: Favourite Blues son makes free agency call after three-club race

Jack Silvagni has chosen St Kilda as his new club, cementing his move from Carlton after a decade at Princes Park, the Saints confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

The father-son draft pick from 2015 will exercise his rights as an unrestricted free agent and make the transition to Moorabbin, where his father, Blues great Stephen, is currently the list manager.

Nine’s Tom Morris said Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, who were the other strong candidates to secure Silvagni’s services, “didn’t budge” on their four-year offers.

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Whereas according to reports, the Saints will secure Silvagni on a five-year deal at approximately $850,000 per season.

“We’re very pleased that Jack has nominated St Kilda as the club where he wishes to continue his career,” St Kilda football boss David Misson said in a statement on Wednesday.

“As Jack is an unrestricted free agent, he will be entitled to accept our offer once formally submitted during the free agency window in October. We need to respect this process.

“With the official player movement period still several weeks away, we will not be commenting further at this time.”

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Silvagni underwent a medical at the club on Tuesday, along with West Coast premiership player Liam Ryan, who’s also expected to cement a St Kilda move.

The 27-year-old swingman had his season cut short due to a groin injury, having shown promise as an intercepting defender after initially plying his trade as a forward.

It was confirmed last week that Silvagni would make his Carlton exit, but it wasn’t yet known where he’d take his talents, with the Magpies and Dogs — whom he’d met with — still considered at the front of the queue at that stage.

And while St Kilda appeared come from the clouds to snap up the third-generation Blue, Morris reported: “In reality, there were conversations in the background for some time in an unconventional, unique manner.

“Carlton always suspected the Saints — even when the Dogs and Pies were meeting with Silvagni.”

But while the Blues “will now be dreaming of top-tier compensation”, Silvagni’s exit is anticipated to land the club an end-of-first-round pick. Carlton currently doesn’t have a first-rounder after trading it last October to move up the 2024 draft order.

In addition to Silvagni and Ryan, the Saints will acquire emerging ruck Tom De Koning, have been strongly linked to Leek Aleer for months, and have also expressed interest in Gold Coast utility Sam Flanders.

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