Reason why Tom Silvagni’s identity finally revealed

A partner at a major law firm has revealed why the identity of a high-profile man convicted of rape was unmasked.

Tom Silvagni, 23, was found guilty of twice raping a woman in 2023 after hosting friends at his parents’ home in Balwyn North.

His name had been hidden from the public for the past 18 months following suppression orders, his identity only referred to as a “high-profile man”.

Silvagni is the brother of current AFL player Jack and the son of Stephen, both prominent figures in the AFL industry. His mother, Jo, is a model and television personality.

Various suppression orders were put in place over the span of 18 months, with his team applying for one on mental health grounds.

Thomas Law Firm partner Justin Quill said Silvagni had about a dozen hearings to fight the release of his name, with the family hiring two separate counsels, led by a Kings Counsel, to fight the case.

One counsel was hired to fight the charges, the other to keep his name hidden.

Silvagni’s name was finally revealed after he was found guilty of the rape, with the Director of Public Prosecutions asking the suppression order to be lifted.

Mr Quill told 3AW the suppression order was put in place on mental health grounds.

“(Silvagni) said my mental health will be impacted and affected if I am identified as an accused rapist,” he said.

“And, of course we now know he’s not just an accused rapist, he is a rapist.”

He said Victoria had more suppression orders than any other state.

Until September 2025, the Victorian courts issued 361 suppression orders, compared to 124 in NSW, 28 in Queensland and 123 in South Australia.

“We have more suppression orders in Victoria than every other state combined,” he said.

Silvagni is facing a pre-sentence hearing on Friday.

He was remanded into custody after the jury returned their verdicts, despite his lawyers requesting his bail be extended, after Judge Gregory Lyon said a term of imprisonment “must be imposed” for the offending.