A high-profile rape case in Melbourne has not only resulted in a prison sentence for the son of a football legend but has also torn apart two of the city's most prominent AFL families.
A Sentence Handed Down in the County Court
Tom Silvagni, aged 23, was sentenced in the Victorian County Court on December 17 to a maximum of six years and two months behind bars. He must serve at least three years and three months before being eligible for parole. The sentence comes after a jury found him guilty on two counts of rape.
The assault occurred in the early hours of January 14, 2024, in a bedroom at the family's mansion in Balwyn North. The property is owned by his famous parents: Carlton great Stephen Silvagni and television personality Jo Silvagni.
Second Football Family Drawn Into Police Investigation
It can now be revealed that the investigation by Victoria Police also embroiled another major football figure. Former Carlton Blues president Mark LoGiudice became involved as the father of the second man present at the mansion that night, his son Anthony.
During the trial, the court heard that detectives visited the LoGiudice home on two separate occasions to interview Anthony. The legal proceedings concluded with the prosecution accusing Tom Silvagni of attempting to shift blame onto Anthony, whom he had called his "best friend" at the time of the incident.
Fractured Friendships and Football Politics
The fallout between the Silvagni and LoGiudice families has been swift and severe, according to reports. Both Tom and Anthony attended the elite Xavier College and their families once owned neighbouring holiday homes in Noosa, Queensland.
However, a source indicated the relationship is now irreparably damaged, stating: 'There was already some bad blood from their days at Carlton, but this has changed lives forever.'
The existing tension stemmed from Mark LoGiudice's role in bringing Stephen Silvagni back to Carlton as list manager in 2014, only for Silvagni to leave the club five years later amid disagreements with the board, where LoGiudice sided with then-CEO Cain Liddle. Stephen Silvagni's tenure had also attracted scrutiny after the Blues drafted his two other sons, Jack and Ben.
The Night of the Assault and a Doctored Receipt
The court established the timeline of the night in question. Anthony LoGiudice and the victim had consensual sex after 12:30am on January 14. Anthony then stated he was leaving, moving his car from the driveway to the street. He ordered an Uber at 1:57am, which dropped him home at 2:09am.
In a significant twist, Tom Silvagni admitted during the trial to doctoring the Uber receipt in an attempt to place Anthony at the scene for longer. He altered the departure time from 1:58am to 2:37am and the arrival time from 2:09am to 2:57am. The jury saw through this deception and unanimously agreed that Silvagni was guilty of rape.
The case has sent shockwaves through Melbourne's sporting and social circles, leaving a legacy of legal consequence and a deep, personal rift between two powerful families.
