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
4. Harry Lemmey
An untried key forward out of West Adelaide, Lemmey's chances of bursting onto the senior-level scene this year may have improved.
The 201-centimetre key-position asset was taken with Pick 47 at the 2022 National Draft by the Blues and, as a starting point, shaped as a developmental forward project.ย
Through 17 VFL games last year, Lemmey returned 12.12 as a goal-scoring option for the club's reserves side.ย
The 19-year-old has spoken of his bond with prolific goalkicker McKay and will be hoping to emulate some of the Coleman medallist's exploits this year in a bid to earn a debut senior opportunity.ย
"Me and 'H' are really close. We get along so well, I look up to him as a mentor," Lemmey told Carlton Media last November.
"I always ask questions of him, and he's happy to share. He's a Coleman medallist who's got so much knowledge of the game and is so professional off the field as well.ย
"For me, it's about learning as much as I can from him. The more I can take from him to put into my game, the more I can pick his brain, the better footballer I'm going to become."
Realistically, the 19-year-old is unlikely to get a look-in this year despite Silvagni's injury. In the longer term, though, his importance to the Blues' cause will likely enhance, particularly once Silvagni's and De Koning's current contracts near their expirations.ย
However, unless he can demonstrate he belongs at the professional level, that won't matter.ย
