Former Carlton list manager Stephen Silvagni believes the Blues’ seven-year deal for Harry McKay proves the club is going “all in” for success with their current group and list strategy.
Despite being contracted for 2023, McKay on Monday put pen to paper on a new seven-year contract to lock away his future through to 2030.
It means Carlton now has arguably their four best players in McKay, Charlie Curnow Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh contracted through until at least 2026, all on well-paid contracts.
From McKay’s point of view, Silvagni believes contract is a “fantastic” one. However, he did have one concern with the club’s list management strategy.
“It’s pretty difficult to find key position players, let’s put that on the table. He’s a Coleman Medallist,” Silvagni began on AFL Trade Radio’s The Late Trade.
“I think the only concern I reckon down the track, and just reading between the lines with the contracts they’ve done with Charlie and Crippa (etc.)… it’s great they’ve stayed at that footy club by the way, (but) it looks like they’re basically going to pay their top seven, eight or nine players and then the rest of the group are just going to have to fit in line and take discounts along the way, which can be dangerous because if you get some players that pop a bit because you’re going to leave yourself a bit vulnerable there, but they might have more information in terms of when the TPP (Total Player Payments) increases are coming.
“So what they’re saying – I think – is they’ve got the core of the group that’s going to win Carlton a flag or get us to success, 'our top seven or eight players we’re happy with and then we’ll have to manage the remainder of our players on contracts that fit in with us'.”
On top of the four contracted until at least 2026, Jacob Weitering, Adam Saad, Zac Williams and Mitch McGovern are also reported to be on lucrative contracts.
AFL Media’s Damian Barrett suggested last week that Carlton have a “potential problem” with its salary cap upcoming, and as Silvagni notes, it’s clear to see what happens when the bubble bursts.
“You can see on the reverse side what’s happened at the Giants (this year) and what Collingwood (2020) had to do and we’ve seen what happened to the Gold Coast in terms of having to give players away and giving up picks,” Silvagni continued.
“This is obviously all in for Carlton, this is the group. The only doubt is – and the players are quality layers – but they haven’t played finals.”
Carlton will likely land Fremantle winger Blake Acres in the coming days but isn’t tipped to be overly busy in the AFL trade period.