WITH the NAB AFL Trade Period getting underway today, Stephen Silvagni is hopeful of adding to the Club’s elite young talent over the next 10 days.

All 18 clubs will convene at Marvel Stadium today, with players able to be traded until 8:30pm on Wednesday, 17 October.

Speaking on RSN’s Breakfast Club, Silvagni said the show of faith from the players over the course of the year was vindication for the Club’s direction.

With seven Rising Star nominations over the last three years, Silvagni said the ability to build success at the Blues with an emerging list was an attractive proposition.

“The situation at our football club this year was that we retained and re-contracted every player who came out of contract,” Silvagni said.

“Guys like Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow and those types … We’ve had a difficult year and those boys could’ve gone to other clubs for much more money, but they believe in our process.

“They know we’ve been on a rebuild, but they see the youth coming through. We see the situation where there’s loyalty and what the Club has been able to produce in terms of culture, they see a lot of hope and want to be part of making Carlton successful.”

One player who will act as a new recruit for the Blues next year is Sam Docherty, who missed the entirety of the 2018 season due to an ACL injury. He was announced as one of two joint captains by the Blues for next season alongside Patrick Cripps.

Silvagni said the appointment represented a prosperous future for the Blues.

“It’s a great result for those boys, Carlton has never had joint captains before,” Silvagni said.

“To have two joint captains, two relatively young captains to grow together as leaders and grow our young list, it’s really exciting.”

Silvagni said the trade period each year represented a significant time in the AFL. 

Carlton’s GM of List Management and Strategy also shed some light on players the Blues have been linked to in recent weeks.

“All clubs have been planning for the trade period, looking at players throughout the year. When it gets to that point of having players commit to you, it’s about trying to get a deal done,” Silvagni said.

“There are three or four clubs in the same situation, we’re hoping in the next 24-48 hours that we get an answer on that [Dylan Shiel] situation.

“We’re also in talks about Mitch McGovern with Adelaide. We’re hopeful of getting a deal done.”