While Carlton has high hopes for their latest generation of Silvagni, the Blues had good reason to toast an earlier variety on Friday night.

Sergio "Serge" Silvagni, a champion midfielder who played 239 matches between 1958 and 1971, including the 1968 and '70 premierships, was elevated to legend status at the Blues' hall of fame celebration at the Athenaeum Theatre.

Silvagni, 77, joined his famous son, Stephen, as a legend. His elevation came on a night when Scott Camporeale, Mil Hanna, Ian Robertson and the late Jack Wrout were inducted into the hall of fame.

Silvagni debuted in round seven, 1958, and would soon emerge as one of the best ruck-rovers in the game, enjoying a fruitful partnership alongside legendary ruckman John Nicholls and master rover Adrian Gallagher. That trio remains one of the finest on-ball brigades to have played the game.

Silvagni had the one season – 1964 – as captain before Ron Barassi joined as captain-coach, and he would claim his second best and fairest in the premiership year of '68.

He would make two Victorian appearances and later served as a committeeman, selector and caretaker coach for three matches in 1978 after the departure of Ian Stewart.

Silvagni was was inducted into the hall of fame in 1989 and was named in the club's team of the 20th century.

He began his career in the number 20 guernsey but such was his impact in his first year in the seniors that he was given the number one – which son Stephen also donned through his own decorated career.

The Blues now hope Jack Silvagni, taken as a father-son in last year's national draft, can be the latest generation to emerge once he can physically handle senior football.

Camporeale played 233 matches for the Blues from '95 – when he was named best first-year player – to 2005, and in 2000 claimed the best and fairest and All-Australian selection. In his prime, he was one of the league's premier ball carriers and distributors.

Hanna was the first Lebanese-born player in the VFL-AFL and would play in 190 matches on a wing and at half-back from 1986 until '97. He was also part of the '95 premiership side.

Robertson, a tough onballer, managed 125 matches from 1966 to 1974 and featured in the premierships of 1968, 1970 and 1972. He would go on to broadcast matches for Channel Seven.

Wrout, who crossed from North Melbourne after 53 matches, played in 130 games for the Blues from 1936 to 1944, booting 266 goals, and was the club's leading goal-kicker in 1943.