Richmond midfielder Jack Ross says the Tigers want to emulate the “Hollywood Hawks”, as Carlton welcome back a favourite son for his first senior game in 600 days.
The Tigers open their 2025 campaign on Thursday night when they host Carlton at the MCG before what is expected to be a crowd of more than 80,000.
Preparing to launch into 2025: Carlton’s Matthew Cottrell and Richmond’s Jack Ross.Credit: Wayne Taylor
Blues coach Michael Voss confirmed on Wednesday that Jack Silvagni will line up in a new role in defence. Silvagni’s last senior game was against West Coast in round 19, 2023, the versatile tall having torn his ACL during the pre-season last year.
“Our ability to advance as a football team is how we can defend better, and we’ve gone after that pretty hard. It’s meant we’ve had to shift a couple of the magnets,” Voss said.
“‘SOS’ has been one over the last month that has probably been the final piece in terms of being there, coming off the ACL. That group is different: just taking note of the personnel, there are points of difference everywhere. We’ve got ‘SOS’ there, [Nick] Haynes comes in, Ollie Hollands has been playing more half-back.
“There’s some genuine change there … we get to play it out and get the first look at it against Richmond.”
Back on track: Jack Silvagni will play his first senior game in 600 days, against Richmond on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images
The Blues had already confirmed that draftee Lucas Camporeale, also a father-son, and Haynes, the former Giant, will face the Tigers.
Under rookie coach Adem Yze, the Tigers finished at the foot of the ladder last year with just two wins, and a rebuild now in earnest has prompted many commentators to predict they will again finish last.
But Ross, an emerging midfielder/wingman whose 2024 season was ruined by a foot stress fracture, insists the Tigers have much to look forward to. This includes a raft of talented draftees, with three – Sam Lalor, Harry Cunningham and Luke Trainor – to step out against the Blues.
This bevy of talent, and a desire to emulate the process which led to the Hawks’ quick rebuild, and surge into the finals last season, has Ross looking forward to what awaits.
“I want to win. I want to get back to winning. That’s what everyone who plays AFL wants – as a club we want to win. I am not going to shy away from that,” Ross told this masthead.
“It’s exciting. It can happen so quick. Even Hawthorn these past few years, they turned it around and have played such a fun brand to watch. We would love to think we can kind of replicate that and play some really fast, fun footy. If everyone is buying into the program, which is what we are doing, who knows what is going to happen.”
The Hawks returned to the finals for the first time in six seasons last year. The Tigers last made the finals in 2022.
Ross, 24, said midfielder Lalor, who has overcome a concussion and fractured jaw after an ugly incident against West Coast, was ready to impress.
“He has been awesome. All of the kids that have come in ask heaps of questions. They want to fast-track their learning, especially Sam, being a midfielder,” Ross said.
“He just wants to learn. He is a sponge. It’s a credit to him – with the jaw and surgery, he has rehabbed really well.”
Armstrong, said Ross, was a “big, strong full forward and really athletic for size”, while defender Trainor “was flexible with where he could play on tall and small”.
Ross was restricted to seven games last season because of a left foot stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal. While he returned late in the season, the former Oakleigh Chargers product has had to be mindful of potential flare-ups through summer.
“The foot feels good, touch wood. It was one of those injuries, the fracture was in a really tricky spot. It takes a long time to heal and, once it does heal, it’s still a little bit angry,” Ross said.
Ross, handed a two-year contract extension last year, and with 70 senior games to his credit, says he has taken a greater leadership role now many of the greats who carried the side to three premierships have left.
“Now, going into my seventh year, I feel like I have the confidence to back it up now,” he said.
“I can lead for the younger guys, and hopefully, they can learn a thing or two. But I am also learning a hell of a lot off them. We have a lot of talent coming through.”
Ross said he enjoyed being a leader on game day, and through ensuring “training standards” were met through the week.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
