Stephen Silvagni

Infobox afl player


firstname = Stephen
lastname = Silvagni


| birthdate = Birth date and age|df=yes|1967|5|31
birthplace =
heightweight = 194cm / 95kg
originalteam = Marcellin
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 7, 12 May 1985
debutteam = Carlton
debutopponent = Sydney Swans
debutstadium = SCG
playingteams = Marcellin (pre 1985)

Carlton (1985-2001)

312 games, 202 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 2005
careerhighlights =
* 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.

In a lengthy career beginning in 1985, he retired in 2001 as one of the greatest ever full-backs to play the game. He is widely known as "SOS" (always pronounced "Soss"), standing for "Son of Serge", referring to his father, another great Carlton Football Club player named Sergio Silvagni.

In 1996's Team of the Century, Silvagni had the honour of being named at full-back, and his defensive skills were renowned and earned him the status as a true clubman at Carlton. He retained the title as the best fullback for 4 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 Fitzroy Lions.

Possibly his finest game was in the 1995 Grand Final where he kept Geelong great Gary Ablett goaless 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.

He is married to Australian television celebrity Jo Bailey, and works in the media as a guest football commentator.

He is currently an Assistant Coach for the St. Kilda Football Club.

See also

*List of Australian rules football families

External links

* [http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=222211 A true blueblood - by Stephen Silvagni]
* [http://www.blueseum.org/cfc/tiki-index.php?page=Stephen+Silvagni Stephen Silvagni Profile in Blueseum]