Garry Lyon doesn’t understand how Carlton has left Jack Silvagni out of its side in recent weeks.
The 25-year-old was left out following the loss to Essendon in Round 13 and returned in Round 16 against Hawthorn as a late inclusion.
The Blues defeated the Hawks and did it without a recognised ruckman, losing both Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning to injury during the week.
Lewis Young and Silvagni were recalled to handle the ruck load, with the latter particularly impressive, finishing with 17 disposals, 12 hit-outs, 10 score involvements, five marks, three clearances and a goal.
Lyon rates Silvagni as the most “selfless” player at Carlton given his willingness to attack any role and believes he should be playing every week.
“I would play him as a third tall, ideally not in the ruck, but you saw what he did on the weekend,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“My point is this on Jack – he is 100 per cent team oriented. He tries his guts out every single time. He makes good decisions. He’s selfless.
“This is the reason I would play him every week – he is as selfless as any player at Carlton and what they haven’t been is a selfless footy side for a long time.
“He’s got the ability to play forward, back or through the middle. I just watched it on the weekend and went ‘how can you not play him’?
“In a side that has been so flat. In six weeks time if you get players back and everyone is in form, it might be a decision, but when you’re going as they were, he tries harder than any of your players, and you don’t play him – I don’t get it.”
Carlton is hoping to regain De Koning for this weekend’s clash with Fremantle, but will have to rely on Young and Silvagni again if not.