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Stephen Silvagni

Assistant Coach, Stephen Silvagni, St Kilda FC
Personal information
Birth	31 May 1967 (1967-05-31) (age 42)
Recruited from	Marcellin
Height and weight	194cm / 95kg
Playing career¹
Debut	Round 7, 12 May 1985, Carlton vs. Sydney Swans, at SCG
Team(s)	Marcellin (pre 1985) Carlton (1985–2001) 312 games, 202 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season
Career highlights
Carlton Best and Fairest: 1990, 1996 Carlton Vice-Captain: 1998-2001 Carlton Hall of Fame: inducted 1996 Carlton Premiership Teams 1987,1995 All-Australian: 1994-1997,1999 Australian Football Hall of Fame AFL Team of the Century (fullback) Mark of the Year: 1988 International Rules 1998, 1999; Jim Stynes Medal 1998 VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century

Stephen "SOS" Silvagni (born 31 May 1967) is a former Australian rules footballer for the Carlton Football Club and current Assistant Coach for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

During his long VFL/AFL career between 1985 until his retirement in 2001 he gained the reputation as one of the greatest ever full-backs to play the game and named in the AFL Team of the Century and Australian Football Hall of Fame.

He is widely known by his nickname, "SOS" (always pronounced "Soss"), standing for "Son of Serge", referring to his father, another great Carlton Football Club player named Sergio Silvagni.

Since retiring from football, Silvagni has juggled a media career (as a football commentator) and more recently coaching.

VFL/AFL career

Playing career

Silvagni's defensive skills were renowned and earned him the status as a true clubman at Carlton. 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 fullback 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 great 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.

Silvangi also played as goalkeeper for the Australian International Rules team on several occasions, and won the inaugural Jim Stynes Medal in 1998.

Silvagni watches over Sam Fisher at training prior to the 2009 AFL Grand Final

Coaching career

Silvagni was appointed assistant coach of the St Kilda Football Club in 2007. He coached the side in the 2009 NAB Cup.

Personal life

Silvagni is married to Australian television celebrity Jo Bailey, and has worked in the media as a guest football commentator.

See also

• List of Australian rules football families

External links

• A true blueblood - by Stephen Silvagni
• Stephen Silvagni Profile in Blueseum