{"id":298949,"date":"2023-12-12T16:01:27","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T16:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=298949"},"modified":"2023-12-12T16:01:27","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T16:01:27","slug":"he-is-really-important-cripps-backs-favourite-son-in-selection-squeeze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/rugby-league\/he-is-really-important-cripps-backs-favourite-son-in-selection-squeeze\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018He is really important\u2019: Cripps backs favourite son in selection squeeze"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Carlton captain Patrick Cripps says Jack Silvagni can force his way into the Blues\u2019 best 23 next season, but that may depend on Michael Voss\u2019 selection philosophy.<\/p>\n

Silvagni has signed a two-year contract extension to remain at Visy Park, his future a point of debate when ruckman-forward Tom de Koning emerged as an important figure last season, joining star tall forwards Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, and frontline ruckman Marc Pittonet.<\/p>\n

The third-generation Blue has been used in a variety of positions through the years, most recently as an undersized back-up ruck, and again faces a major fight to earn regular senior selection.<\/p>\n

He had a knee injury late last season, which hindered his bid for selection as the Blues made a breakthrough deep finals run, falling just short of the grand final.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Selection squeeze: Patrick Cripps has backed Jack Silvagni to force his way into the Blues\u2019 best 23 next season.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n

As the Blues confirmed a three-year sponsorship deal with Ampol on Monday, Cripps said Silvagni still had a lot to offer.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis role is really important. He plays that hybrid forward. He can play tall, he can play small, his pressure. I think his biggest one wood is the competitive energy that he has,\u201d Cripps said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat second ruck role that he can play as well, as an under-sized player, a bit more mobility around the ground \u2013 it\u2019s all up to the coaching staff in terms of if we go two rucks, or we go the hybrid role. I just know what you are going to get when SOS plays. We all love playing with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silvagni played 16 senior games last season, his last against West Coast in round 19, taking his career tally to 115 since debuting in 2016.<\/p>\n

The Blues had a strong training session on Monday, Silvagni included, as they aim to deliver the club\u2019s first grand-final appearance since 1999. Cripps said the club\u2019s new faces had impressed in the first phase of the pre-season campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new boys, Ashton [Moir], Billy [Wilson], Matty [Carroll], they have all fitted in really well and had a crack. Ashton and Billy have done most of the sessions, that\u2019s all you can ask,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Voss spoke last week about the heightened expectations the Blues face this season. However, Cripps, 28, said there was one word he did not want uttered in a year when the Blues will be in the spotlight, having become a prime-time favourite of host broadcasters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually hate the word expectations, because you are trying to predict something that hasn\u2019t happened yet,\u201d Cripps, having averaged almost 25 disposals in 24 games last year, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we learnt a really hard lesson last year, and I felt like the group lost their confidence in the middle part. I think through that adversity we know what we can focus on to make us a good side \u2026 the controllables.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe external, it doesn\u2019t actually really matter. What really matters is what we value internally. We talk about a lot of things without the ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one thing we really focused on in that back half of the year was how can we bring a lot of joy and fun around the club. That\u2019s what I feel like last year, as hard as it was, we learnt a really good lesson about what is important to us. I think that\u2019s what gives me a lot of confidence going into this pre-season, and also the season \u2013 we know what makes us a good side.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blues open the new season against the Lions in Brisbane on March 8.<\/p>\n

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Carlton captain Patrick Cripps says Jack Silvagni can force his way into the Blues\u2019 best 23 next season, but that may depend on Michael Voss\u2019 selection philosophy. Silvagni has signed a two-year contract extension to remain at Visy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":298948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018He is really important\u2019: Cripps backs favourite son in selection squeeze - Sports Life Tale<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/rugby-league\/he-is-really-important-cripps-backs-favourite-son-in-selection-squeeze\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018He is really important\u2019: Cripps backs favourite son in selection squeeze - Sports Life Tale\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. 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