After it was revealed on Thursday the Blues would be without forward Jack Silvagni for the entirety of the 2024 season due to a ruptured ACL, devastation was justifiably the reactionary sentiment.ย
It's indubitably a cruel blow for the 26-year-old father-son gun, who earned a two-year contract extension late last year to remain at Princes Park in the medium term.ย
Albeit, after the initial despondency within Carlton Football Club headquarters, the next point of focus should regard the Blues forwards, who subsequently need to step up in place of Silvagni.ย
Irrespective of the fact that he sometimes fell out of coach Michael Voss' favour last season amongst a forward-line already containing juggernaut spearheads Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, at his best, Silvagni was a member of the Blues' optimal squad.ย
Thus, whether it's as an immediate starter in Voss' Opening Round squad, as a 12-to-14-game fringe option, or even as an infrequently-appearing depth piece, here are five Carlton forwards who could see increased opportunities in 2024 as a result of Silvagni sitting on the sidelines.ย
3. Orazio Fantasia
Fantasia isn't close to Silvagni's โ or even Martin's โ height, but he's still relevant to the discourse around Carlton's 2024 forward line.
The 28-year-old's recruitment this off-season, if for no other reason, suggests Carlton's list management powerbrokers see a deficiency somewhere that he can compensate for. And, even if he can't play in Silvagni's third-tall-mould, Fantasia fits in the Blues' holistic forward-line picture as a havoc-wreaker and scoring threat.ย
However, the former Port Adelaide and Essendon forward's problem in recent seasons has been his availability or lack thereof.ย
Persistent soft-tissue ailments have meant Fantasia has played a combined four AFL games across the past two seasons and hasn't registered a 20-game campaign since 2017.ย
The Norwood product will need to stay healthy and re-substantiate himself at the AFL level if he desires to play a part in Carlton's likely finals assault this September.ย
