“Don’t Pretend This Was Just One Night”: The Lasting Trauma in the Tom Silvagni Rape Case

In January 2024, a night of drinking at a luxurious Melbourne home turned into a nightmare for a young woman. What began as a social gathering among friends ended in deception and assault, leaving indelible scars that extend far beyond that single evening. Tom Silvagni, the 23-year-old youngest son of AFL legend Stephen Silvagni and television personality Jo Silvagni, was convicted of two counts of rape in December 2025. The case, shrouded in suppression orders for months, exploded into public view when those restrictions were lifted, forcing Australia to confront not just the crime itself, but its enduring aftermath.

abc.net.au

abc.net.au

The incident occurred on January 14, 2024, at the Silvagni family home in Balwyn North. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had joined Silvagni, his girlfriend Alannah Iaconis, and his friend Anthony LoGiudice for drinks. After consensual sex with LoGiudice in a guest bedroom, he left via Uber around 2 a.m. Silvagni then entered the dark room, pretending to be LoGiudice by claiming the Uber had been cancelled. He digitally raped her twice—once while spooning her from behind, and again while restraining her arms. Despite her repeated pleas to stop and attempts to escape his grip, the assault continued until she touched his hair and realized it was Silvagni. He fled the room, immediately beginning a web of lies.

In the hours and days that followed, Silvagni engaged in calculated deception. He doctored an Uber receipt to alter timestamps, attempting to place LoGiudice back at the scene. He urged friends to corroborate false stories and, in a police-recorded phone call, gaslit the victim by suggesting she might have been mistaken due to alcohol. Prosecutors described his actions as “cunning” and marked by a “lack of empathy” and “sense of entitlement.” A jury saw through the facade after a nearly two-week trial, delivering guilty verdicts on December 5, 2025.

countycourt.vic.gov.au

Melbourne – County Court of Victoria

The suppression order, fiercely fought by Silvagni’s legal team on mental health grounds, had kept his identity secret since charges were laid in mid-2024. It was lifted on December 11, revealing the perpetrator as part of one of Australia’s most prominent AFL dynasties. Stephen Silvagni, a Carlton icon with 312 games and induction into the AFL Hall of Fame, and Jo Silvagni, a former television host, had supported their son throughout. The family legacy—spanning grandfather Sergio’s premierships to brother Jack’s current role at St Kilda—added layers of public scrutiny.

But it was the victim’s powerful impact statement, delivered in court on December 12, that truly shocked and outraged the nation. Standing in an all-white outfit, her voice trembling yet resolute, she addressed Silvagni directly via video link from prison: “Tom Silvagni, you raped me not once but twice. You know this, I know this, and now so does everyone else.” She described the premeditated betrayal: “You didn’t just violate my body that night, you violated my trust.” The lies that followed compounded the trauma, making her doubt her own reality and prolonging her suffering.

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thebulldog.law

The survivor spoke of profound, ongoing devastation. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, she endures nightmares where she feels Silvagni pinning her down. Simple acts, like hugging her father, trigger panic because the assault ended with Silvagni demanding a hug. Sleep is elusive; trust in friendships and potential romantic partners is shattered. “Every single day I grieve the person I was before you,” she said. “Your actions that night have changed the way I trust, the way I sleep, and the way I move through the world now. This decision of yours has impacted me for the rest of my life.”

She highlighted how the denials inflicted as much damage as the act itself: “The fear you caused me didn’t just come from the assault. It came from you telling me not to trust myself.” In a society where sexual assault convictions are rare, her courage in pursuing justice—and winning it—offers hope to other survivors. Yet, as she noted, the headlines fade, but the trauma does not. “Don’t pretend this was just one night,” echoes the sentiment that resonates deeply: the ripple effects are lifelong.

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theage.com.au

On December 17, Judge Gregory Lyon sentenced Silvagni to six years and two months in prison, with a non-parole period of three years and three months. Describing the offending as “egregious and callous,” the judge noted Silvagni’s lack of remorse. Outside court, Stephen and Jo Silvagni appeared shellshocked, vowing to stand by their son and hinting at an appeal. The family has since sold the Balwyn North home and relocated.

Public reaction has been polarized. While many praise the victim’s bravery and the jury’s verdict, online trolls and skeptics have targeted her, prompting defiant responses on social media. The case has reignited discussions about privilege, entitlement in elite circles, and the justice system’s handling of sexual assaults. It also strained ties between prominent Carlton-affiliated families, with LoGiudice’s father, former club president Mark LoGiudice, drawn into the investigation.

carltonfc.com.au

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Ultimately, this case underscores a harsh truth: sexual violence isn’t confined to “one night.” For survivors, it’s a daily battle against shadows that linger. The victim’s words serve as a stark reminder that justice, while achieved here, cannot erase the profound, enduring harm. As Australia grapples with these revelations, her story demands we confront the full cost of such crimes—not just in courtrooms, but in lives forever altered.