WITH less than six weeks to go until Round 1, Carlton's playing group is clear on what it needs to bring to the table to improve on the strides made last season.

Finishing a major block of their pre-season with the Sunshine Coast camp last week, the team will now move onto their final stage of the pre-season, preparing for games with match simulation and practice matches against Collingwood and Sydney.

Heading into his eighth season at Carlton, Jack Silvagni says he can sense a difference within the group which he believes will hold them in good stead for the 2023 season.

“I think a lot of the themes and ambitions that we’ve had over the last year and heading into this year, they’re going to set us up for a good year,” Silvagni said. 

“The way we’ve trained, the way we’ve all put our heads together and agreed to how we’re going to attack the year, I think only good things can come from it.” 

It’s been well-documented since Michael Voss became Carlton's AFL Senior Coach that 2022 was focused on connection and laying the foundations, while this season will see a lift in intensity and increased layers to the game plan.

Silvagni noted that it feels like everyone at the Club is united with the direction and wanting to get each area of the group flowing seamlessly. 

“I think we’ve got a lot of structure with our coaching staff and footy department – they’re all aligned and on the same page,” he said. 

“You look at the good teams of bygone eras and there’s never anything out of place, and if there is, there’s always people that can back it up.” 

While last year's 'next-man-up' mentality became more of a necessity in the back half of 2022, Silvagni admitted that it gave players the opportunity to get out of their comfort zone and build some resilience. 

Acknowledging the leaders within the playing group, Silvagni stated there is a real drive amongst the team to take their game to the next level.

“I think it took a group of core players to take us and drive that, to straighten us up and say ‘this is where we’re heading’,” he said. 

“Understanding the coaches, the game plan... if the group isn’t intent or hell-bent on succeeding, then it’s only going to get you so far.”