In a powerful and unflinching public statement released on January 29, 2026, the woman at the center of the sexual assault allegations against Tom Silvagni’s son has broken her silence once again, vowing to continue speaking out despite what she describes as repeated attempts to discredit and intimidate her. The statement arrives just days after lawyers for the 24-year-old AFL player’s son formally lodged an appeal against his conviction in the Victorian County Court last November.

The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous in line with legal protections for sexual assault complainants, was sexually assaulted by the younger Silvagni in a Melbourne apartment in early 2024 following a night out. The assault was captured in part on CCTV and supported by forensic evidence, text messages, and witness statements. After a two-week trial, a jury found Silvagni guilty of one count of sexual penetration without consent and one count of sexual assault. He was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years and nine months.

In her statement, shared through her legal team and posted on a dedicated support page that has since garnered thousands of signatures, the woman addressed recent media reports and online commentary that have attempted to portray her as unreliable or motivated by ulterior motives. “They have dug into my private life, twisted my past, questioned my character, and tried to make me the villain in my own assault,” she wrote. “I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to let shame or fear stop me from telling the truth. What happened to me was real, it was violent, and it was not my fault.”

She went on to describe the toll the legal process—and the subsequent appeal—has taken on her mental health. “Every time this case is reopened, I relive that night. Every headline, every comment, every whisper reminds me that my pain is still up for debate. But I will not disappear. I will not shrink. I will keep speaking because silence protects no one except the guilty.”

The statement has shifted public focus back to the victim’s experience and away from the defense’s arguments, which center on claims of consensual activity, inconsistencies in her recollection, and alleged procedural errors during the trial. Silvagni’s legal team has argued that fresh evidence—primarily character references and new witness statements—warrants a retrial or significant sentence reduction. The appeal is scheduled for preliminary hearing in March 2026.

Legal experts say the victim’s public message is unusual but not unprecedented. “In high-profile cases involving sexual assault, victims are often retraumatized by appeals and media scrutiny,” said Melbourne barrister Sarah Middleton. “Her decision to speak out directly is a powerful assertion of agency. It also reminds the court—and the public—that the case is about harm done to a person, not just legal technicalities.”

Social media reaction has been swift and polarized. Supporters have rallied around the victim with hashtags like #IBelieveHer and #RefuseToBeSilenced, sharing her statement thousands of times. Critics, including some AFL fans and commentators aligned with the Silvagni family, have accused her of “seeking attention” or “exploiting the system.” The AFL itself has remained silent, though the league’s Respect and Responsibility policy continues to be cited in discussions about player conduct and accountability.

For the victim, the appeal represents another chapter in what she describes as an ongoing battle for justice. “They want me to go away quietly,” she wrote. “They want the story to fade. But I am not going anywhere. I will keep telling my truth until the system listens.”

As the appeal process begins, her words serve as both a personal declaration and a broader challenge to a culture that too often questions survivors instead of perpetrators. The case—already one of the most closely watched in Australian football—has now taken on renewed urgency. The victim’s refusal to be silenced may not only influence the appeal’s outcome but also reshape the conversation around consent, accountability, and the courage required to speak out.