Stephen Silvagni
Encyclopedia
Stephen Silvagni is a former Australian rules football
er for the Carlton Football Club
.
During his long VFL/AFL career, from his debut in 1985, until his retirement in 2001, he gained the reputation as one of the greatest ever full-backs to play the game and was named as full-back in the AFL Team of the Century and is an inductee in the Australian Football Hall of Fame
.
He is widely known by his nickname, "SOS" , standing for "Son of Serge", referring to his father, Sergio Silvagni
, another great Carlton player.
After retiring from football, Silvagni has been an assistant coach
at four AFL clubs, most recently St Kilda between 2007 and 2010.
. In 1996's AFL Team of the Century
, Silvagni had the honour of being named at full-back. He retained the title as the best full-back for four years in succession, although he was also known for his marking and goalkicking ability when playing at the opposite end of the ground in the full-forward position at times, even kicking a bag of 10 goals in Round 16, 1993 against the Fitzroy Lions.
Possibly his finest game was in the 1995 AFL Grand Final
where he kept Geelong
legend Gary Ablett goalless for the entire game.
In addition to Silvagni's blanketing tactics, he was also a renowned high-flyer, taking out the Mark of the Year
in 1988. However, when one such mark led to an ankle injury, the high-flying aspect of his game largely disappeared.
A year after his retirement at the end of the 2001 season he announced that he would make a comeback to assist Carlton, following their penalties for salary cap
infringements. He however changed his mind soon after and was not a listed player for the 2003 season.
Silvangi also played as goalkeeper for the Australian International Rules team on several occasions, and won the inaugural Jim Stynes Medal in 1998.
, and has three sons. Since retiring from playing football he has worked in the media as a guest football commentator and been an assistant coach at four AFL clubs.
Silvagni's second cousin is Fremantle's key defender Alex Silvagni
. Alex's father Eric and Stephen's father Sergio
are first cousins.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
.
During his long VFL/AFL career, from his debut in 1985, until his retirement in 2001, he gained the reputation as one of the greatest ever full-backs to play the game and was named as full-back in the AFL Team of the Century and is an inductee in the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
.
He is widely known by his nickname, "SOS" , standing for "Son of Serge", referring to his father, Sergio Silvagni
Sergio Silvagni
Sergio 'Serge' Silvagni is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .Silvagni made his debut for the Carlton Football Club in Round 7, 1958...
, another great Carlton player.
After retiring from football, Silvagni has been an assistant coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at four AFL clubs, most recently St Kilda between 2007 and 2010.
Playing career
Silvagni's defensive skills were renowned and earned him the status as a true clubman at CarltonCarlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. In 1996's AFL Team of the Century
Team of the Century
Team of the Century and Team of the Decade are terms used in team sport to name a hypothetical best team over a given time period.For the century team, it can be either 100 years, or for a century...
, Silvagni had the honour of being named at full-back. He retained the title as the best full-back for four years in succession, although he was also known for his marking and goalkicking ability when playing at the opposite end of the ground in the full-forward position at times, even kicking a bag of 10 goals in Round 16, 1993 against the Fitzroy Lions.
Possibly his finest game was in the 1995 AFL Grand Final
1995 AFL Grand Final
The 1995 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 30 September 1995. It was the 99th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
where he kept Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
legend Gary Ablett goalless for the entire game.
In addition to Silvagni's blanketing tactics, he was also a renowned high-flyer, taking out the Mark of the Year
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
in 1988. However, when one such mark led to an ankle injury, the high-flying aspect of his game largely disappeared.
A year after his retirement at the end of the 2001 season he announced that he would make a comeback to assist Carlton, following their penalties for salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
infringements. He however changed his mind soon after and was not a listed player for the 2003 season.
Silvangi also played as goalkeeper for the Australian International Rules team on several occasions, and won the inaugural Jim Stynes Medal in 1998.
Personal life
Silvagni is married to Australian television celebrity, Jo BaileyJo Bailey
Joanne Louise Silvagni is an Australian model and television personality.She was educated at Tintern Girls Grammar School, outside of Melbourne, and Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne...
, and has three sons. Since retiring from playing football he has worked in the media as a guest football commentator and been an assistant coach at four AFL clubs.
Silvagni's second cousin is Fremantle's key defender Alex Silvagni
Alex Silvagni
Alex Silvagni is an Australian rules footballer with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Early career:...
. Alex's father Eric and Stephen's father Sergio
Sergio Silvagni
Sergio 'Serge' Silvagni is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .Silvagni made his debut for the Carlton Football Club in Round 7, 1958...
are first cousins.