| Sergio Silvagni | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born | (1938-06-28)28 June 1938 Carlton, Victoria | ||
| Died | 15 July 2021(2021-07-15) (aged 83) Melbourne | ||
| Original team | Parade College | ||
| Debut | Round 7, 1958,Carlton vs.South Melbourne, atLake Oval | ||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1958–1971 | Carlton | 239 (136) | |
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1978 | Carlton | 3 (0–3–0) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1971. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Sergio Valentino Silvagni (28 June 1938 – 15 July 2021) was anAustralian rules footballer who played for theCarlton Football Club in theVictorian Football League (VFL), mostly as aruck-rover. He was the first of three generations to represent Carlton at VFL/AFL level, followed by his sonStephen and grandsonJack.
The son ofItalian immigrants Giacomo Silvagni and his wife Antonia, Sergio lived with his parents and sister Milena in a single fronted dwelling in Canning Street,Carlton, very close to the famousLygon Street precinct, the epicenter of Melbourne's Italian community.[1] Giacomo (also known as "Jack")[2] emigrated to Australia in 1924 from the town ofAsiago in the northern Italian province ofVicenza.[3] He was also a first cousin of fellow Carlton footballerJohn Benetti.[4]
Shortly after Sergio was born,World War II broke out and Italians were considered enemies in Australia. According to the law at the time, Giacomo Silvagni was considered an enemy alien since he had not taken up Australian citizenship, and was sent away to an alien camp inBroadford for several months, living in a tent and cutting timber. Silvagni remembered his father's departure vividly, even though he was only four years old at the time.[1]
Silvagni married his wife Rita in 1963. Their marriage produced four children—sonStephen, and daughters Lisa, Danielle and Michelle.[5]
Silvagni was educated at St Thomas' Christian Brothers College inClifton Hill and later atParade College,[1] and was an outstanding schoolboy athlete. In 1948, competing for St Thomas', he won the Under-11 75-yard sprint at the Victorian Christian Brothers' Combined Athletic Meeting.[6] In 1949, he was the Under-12 handball champion of C.B.C. Clifton Hill.[7] In 1953, running on a rain soaked track, he broke the 440 yard record by half second, clocking 54.4 seconds; he also won the shot put at the combined Christian Brothers Secondary School sports at North Melbourne.[8]
Silvagni made his senior VFL debut forCarlton on 24 May 1958 in the Round 7 match againstSouth Melbourne) at theLake Oval.[1] Although Carlton lost by 22 points, Silvagni, along with his cousinJohn Benetti, was one of the best Carlton players on the ground.[9][10][11]
In his playing career, Silvagni played mainly as aruck-rover, forming one of the game's most celebrated on-ball divisions with ruckmanJohn Nicholls and roverAdrian Gallagher.[12][10][11] He was a member of the1968 and1970 premiership teams, and was listed among the best players afield.[13][14][10][11] He also played in the runner-up teams for the1962 and1969 premierships. After coming out of retirement in 1970 at the behest ofBarassi, Silvagni retired permanently from his playing career at the end of1971.[1][10][11] Silvagni played a total of 239 games and kicked a total of 136 goals for Carlton from 1958 until 1971[10][11]
After retiring from playing in the field, Silvagni held various positions at Carlton, first he served as a committeeman and selector at Carlton.[10][11]
Silvagni then later became Carlton's reserves coach, and served as the club's caretaker senior coach for a few weeks in 1978 between the departure ofIan Stewart as senior coach and the appointment ofAlex Jesaulenko as captain-coach.[15][16][10][11]
In 1989, Silvagni was inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame, and his membership was elevated to Legend status in 2016.[12][17] Both he and son Stephen were named in Carlton's Team of the Century[5] as well as theItalian Team of the Century in 2007.[18][19]
Silvagni died on 15 July 2021 in Melbourne at the age of 83 after multiple health issues, including a broken leg.[17] He was survived by his wife Rita and four children.[17]
Upon news of his death, Carlton club president Mark LoGiudice released a statement in tribute:
Sergio was and always will be a legendary Carlton person. He was such an important figure to many Carlton supporters growing up during the 1960s, particularly those who had migrated to Australia and could instantly identify with one of their heroes. He would go on to become one of our greatest ever players and his impact on the club will forever hold a significant place in our history books. On and off the field he embodied what it means to be a Carlton person and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his family.[20]
