Tom Silvagni, the 23-year-old son of Australian Football League icon Stephen Silvagni, has been sentenced to a prison term of six years and two months for the rape of a woman at his Melbourne residence.
Guilty verdict in County Court
A jury at the Victorian County Court found Silvagni guilty of two counts of rape on December 5. The charges stemmed from an incident in the early hours of January 14, 2024, at the defendant's home in Melbourne.
Throughout the trial, Silvagni maintained his innocence, denying that he had digitally raped the victim on two separate occasions that night. However, the jury ultimately rejected his account of events after hearing the evidence presented in court.
A family legacy overshadowed
The sentencing brings a grim chapter for a family celebrated in Australian sports history. Tom Silvagni is part of a formidable AFL dynasty; his father Stephen is a Hall of Fame player, his brother Jack currently plays at the elite level, and his grandfather Sergio is also a legend of the game.
This high-profile connection has cast a long shadow over the case, drawing significant public and media attention to the proceedings in Melbourne's County Court.
The sentence and its implications
Judge Michael McInerney handed down the custodial sentence of six years and two months. The ruling underscores the severity of the crimes and marks a definitive legal consequence for the offences committed in 2024.
The case highlights the continuing work of the justice system in addressing sexual violence, irrespective of a perpetrator's background or family name. The victim's experience and the court's findings remain the central focus of this outcome.
With the sentence now passed, Silvagni will begin his term in a Victorian correctional facility, as the legal process concludes a case that has resonated far beyond the courtroom.
