In Stephen Silvagni’s first season as list manager at St Kilda, a stoush is already brewing between him and his former club.
The Saints' appointment in January marked Silvagni’s return to football after serving as Carlton’s list boss from 2015 to 2019 before a reported falling out with club management.
With Silvagni returning to a rival club, SEN’s Tom Morris reports there are already a disagreement between him and the Blues regarding Paddy Dow.
The former no.3 pick has been starved of senior opportunities at Carlton and is now out of contract. St Kilda has been heavily linked in a trade, but it’s far from a done deal.
“This is one that could actually cause some angst between Carlton and St Kilda in the trade period,” Morris began on AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Exchange.
“Carlton is adamant that it has to be a trade. St Kilda is telling people that they can get him as a delisted free agent or via the pre-season draft.
“And the element to this, Stephen Silvagni vs Carlton. This is important. Silvagni is not going to give up a draft pick for someone he believes Carlton doesn’t want.”
Dow, 23, was selected by Silvagni in the 2017 draft, ahead of Luke Davies-Uniacke and Adam Cerra, another twist to the tale.
Dow was the starting substitute for Carlton in five games from 10 senior appearances this year. In his full games, the inside midfielder averaged just over 20 possessions and six clearances.
Sydney has also been linked with acquiring Dow for 2024 and beyond.
“Dow will end up at St Kilda if that’s where he wants to go,” Morris continued.
“But a little stoush over exactly how he gets there between a Carlton great – someone who couldn’t even go into the rooms for Jack Silvagni’s milestone game – and the current Carlton administration, is absolutely on.”
Silvagni famously walked former Sun Jack Martin to the pre-season draft after balking at trade negotiations while at Carlton back in 2019.