'Grateful for the opportunity' and 'happy to be home' were the words used by Stephen Silvagni after being appointed as Carlton's new GM – List Management and Strategy. 

Silvagni returns to the Blues after an illustrious career spanning 17 seasons, 312 games and two premierships.

Speaking to 3AW's Sports Today program, Silvagni said he's focussed on the task at hand and challenges that lay ahead. 

"I think the Club has started by putting the foundations in place with quality young players such as Cripps, Menzel and Buckley and these types of boys,” Silvagni said. 

"We understand at the Club that we have to supplement that with some other players, and it's not going to be a quick fix – it’s going to take some time. 

"Certainly we want to try and get there as quickly as possible, to make Carlton one of the contenders for premierships, or at least the top four in the years to come."

The seven-time All-Australian said he's always had a desire to return to Carlton, but he was waiting for the right opportunity. 

"Deep down there was always a desire to go back to the Club if the opportunity did arise," Sivagni said. 

"My reason really to go elsewhere was because I had played 17 years at the Club, and grew up at the Club seven or eight years before that. 

"So I'd been at the Club for about 25 years and I only knew the Carlton way. So I thought if I was going to ever do anything in football, I needed to get out of the Club and experience another way that other clubs do things."