Unlocked iPad blows up a society marriage... Plus, showdown between two of AFL's most powerful women - and the Silvagnis' curious living arrangement after son's shame: COSTELLO'S MELBOURNE | Retrui News | Retrui
Unlocked iPad blows up a society marriage... Plus, showdown between two of AFL's most powerful women - and the Silvagnis' curious living arrangement after son's shame: COSTELLO'S MELBOURNE
SOURCE:Daily Mail
SEB COSTELLO unpacks the showdown between the two most powerful women in AFL and reveals the Silvagnis' curious living arrangement in the wake of their son's rape conviction.
Wilson's war
2026 is looming as the most interesting Victorian State Election in years.
For 22 of the last 26 years, the southern state has been held by the ALP, but the winds of change are blowing according to the latest polls.
For newly minted Liberal Leader Jess Wilson to win, she will likely need a huge landslide.
But as the ghosts of the world's longest lockdown continue to stir, some say it's possible with the right team.
Wilson hasn't shared who she might be working with, but Costello's Melbourne hears that one key appointment might be the highly-respected Byron Hodgkinson who's recently done a mighty job as the General Manager of Government & Industry Affairs at Crown Sydney.
There he worked alongside another ex-Victorian political staffer, Daniel Andrews' former press secretary, Lisa Maksimovic.
For newly minted Liberal Leader Jess Wilson (pictured) to win in Victoria's 2026 state election, she needs a huge landslide, says Daily Mail columnist Seb Costello
As late as this week, Hodgkinson was still working hard for Crown on an overseas assignment.
But his calmness, experience and willingness to fight would be of great value to Wilson. Watch this space.
Footy fight
For more than a decade, Jude Donnelly has been amongst the AFL's elite off-the-field players.
A favourite of former AFL CEO, Gil McLachlan, Donnelly was Head of the league's Government & Stakeholder Relations after rejoining the AFL in 2013.
I first met the former Howard government advisor in 2007 when she was handling media for the Richmond Tigers. At that time, I was the local breakfast host on Classic 102.5, Echuca, when the Tigers came into town for a community camp, and I found Donnelly to be charming, funny and very well-connected.
In her early days in that role, Donnelly impressed many as she navigated the dramatic 'supplements saga' that saw AFL players suspended for doping.
Though Donnelly is known for her skills in working with both sides of politics, she was particularly helpful for the AFL during the decade of Liberal rule in Canberra between 2013 and 2022.
Jude Donnelly (pictured left with Liberal Party vice-president Holly Byrne right) was crucial in helping allow footy to continue during the pandemic
Sharon McCrohan (pictured) joined the AFL as Executive General Manager of Corporate Affairs in August 2025
That included the pandemic period when Donnelly was crucial in helping to allow football to continue in government-approved, COVID-managed 'hubs'.
Some might also remember an unusual episode that made a Senate enquiry, where Donnelly had assisted a McLachlan relative, as they lobbied the Immigration Minister to keep a French nanny in the country.
But just before Christmas - in a shock update sent to club leaders - it was quietly announced that Donnelly was 'departing AFL House after almost two decades with key roles within the AFL industry'.
So why the sudden departure? Could it perhaps have something to do with an equally impressive operator joining AFL House?
Sharon McCrohan comes from the Labor side of politics and joined the AFL as Executive General Manager of Corporate Affairs in August 2025, having previously famously managed the messaging for Victorian Premiers, Steve Bracks and John Brumby.
She's regarded as a fierce and focused operator who knows how to win - although one of her recent jobs was highly scrutinised. McCrohan was spinning for Melbourne man-about-town Luke Sayers last year, after a picture of a penis was published on his Twitter account.
After claiming the 'd**k pic' was due to Sayers being 'hacked', he eventually fell on his sword and resigned as the president of Carlton Football Club.
McCrohan started her new role a few months back, replacing outgoing communications boss, Brian Walsh.
Buried in the press release, it was announced that: 'Executive Manager of Government & Stakeholder relations Jude Donnelly will continue to lead the AFL's Government portfolio, reporting to CEO Andrew Dillon.'
Donnelly has a strong relationship with Dillon, who first joined the league in 2000, but perhaps Donnelly retaining her direct report to the CEO after McCrohan's appointment was a sign that things were going to get complicated.
According to one source close to the AFL corridors of power, these two powerful executives could not co-exist.
To paraphrase the gunslingers of the old west, 'this league ain't big enough for the both of us'.
Silvagnis in exile
Speaking of footy, Jo Silvagni was spied over the Christmas period in the holiday hotspot of Noosa.
Jo and her husband Steve Silvagni have spent many summers in Noosa, enjoying the northern sunshine amongst fellow Victorian transplants, with an airline source even telling me they've been booked on the exact same flight for years.
Of course, their 2025 trip will feel different as it comes just days after their son Tom was jailed for rape.
Jo Silvagni (pictured outside court with husband Steve) has been spotted buying coffee in Noosa - but her summer holiday will no doubt feel very different this year
'Jo's having a tough time. Everyone up here feels for a bit for her,' a Noosa source told Costello's Melbourne (Jo Silvagni is pictured back in Melbourne prior to her trip)
Tom Silvagni (centre) was convicted of rape
As one Noosa regular who also makes the trip up from Melbourne told Costello's Melbourne: 'Jo's having a tough time. Everyone up here feels a bit for her. It's not going to be a happy trip, that's for sure.'
While Jo Silvagni was seen getting her morning coffee at the popular Noosa Social Espresso and Wine Bar, it's unlikely that she and Steve will be seen in Noosa's premium dining destinations like Sails and Bistro C.
We're told they're keeping a low profile amid speculation that Jo might base herself in Noosa in 2026.
The family continues to rent a home in the up-market Melbourne suburb of Balwyn, just a short drive from where the rape occurred, and Steve, along with the couple's eldest son, Jack, are employed in Victoria by the AFL's St Kilda Football Club.
Meanwhile, Costello's Melbourne couldn't help but notice a striking similarity between Tom Silvagni's case and another alleged rape that's gaining attention.
Many court-watchers were outraged that Tom Silvagni's name was suppressed until well after he was found guilty - and Daily Mail has also covered the case of another high-profile Melbourne man charged with rape, who still has his name suppressed.
Interestingly, both Tom and the other man (who we cannot name) were treated by the same psychiatrist, Dr Jaqueline Rakov, who made submissions in both cases. These submissions contributed to the court's decision to grant the suppression orders.
In the case of the man we cannot name, Dr Rakov told a court last year that her patient maintained his innocence.
Cheating device
We can't publish all the details of this one as it's a bit too close to home - and some of the details are way too graphic.
But needless to say, one corporate buccaneer has been sunk by his behaviour during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Around the time that Jamie Melham thundered home at Flemington, this businessman lost a big personal gamble.
Having over-indulged at the races, the man headed home to his wife, who is commercially successful in her own right with extensive political connections
We hear the husband left his smart-device unlocked, before passing out.
The Missus went searching and found some devastating material.
We hear that some of the photos (and videos) depicted one of the man's work colleagues - a woman who wasn't dressed for the office, shall we say.
The high-flyer has been kicked out and won't be returning to the family home any time soon.
If the marriage was a racehorse, it might be time to put up the tarp.
The odds of a reconciliation are not good.
Hellenic hightail
Melbourne's very own MasterChef, George Calombaris, used to run this town at lunch and dinner time.
George's fancy Press Club was packed for every sitting and other venues like Gazi and Hellenic Republic were big hits too.
But that was before the so-called underpayment scandal that changed his life.
In 2019, George commissioned an audit on his businesses and the investigation found that around 500 staff had been underpaid by a total $7.8million.
A union-backed campaign made an example of him and while George paid staff back every dollar, he was eventually fined $200,000 by Fair Work.
Celebrity chef George Calombaris (pictured) was king of the Melbourne food scene until his underpayment scandal
Greek-themed Hellenic House Project (pictured) in the bayside suburb of Highett was supposed to be Calombaris' comeback - but Costello's Melbourne hears his involvement has come to an end
In 2023, George launched a comeback to the Melbourne restaurant scene, opening the Greek-themed Hellenic House Project in the bayside suburb of Highett.
But now we're told that George's involvement in the project has come to an end.
A source says that he's sold out of the business and might be leaving Melbourne for the foreseeable future.
We understand Calombaris has been looking at basing himself and his family in Sydney for quite some time.
Raskall return
TV Newsman, Allan Raskall, has worn plenty of caps during his career as a journalist with Channel 10, Channel 7, SBS and Channel 9.
He recently delighted audiences with his hilarious showbiz stories for 9News Melbourne.
When he finished up at Nine in 2024, Raskall quipped: 'I guess during a cost-of-living crisis even big business has to cut back on luxury items!'
But the popular performer has a new project in the works.
This columnist had a great time hamming it up with Allan Raskall (left) on the purple carpet at the opening night of Anastasia at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne
Costello's Melbourne hears that Raskall has been tapped for a new TV pilot that aims to bolster the entertainment industry.
I can't say anymore, as he wouldn't want me to. Allan and I are good mates and on Sunday we caught up at the opening night of Melbourne's newest musical production, Anastasia, at the Regent Theatre where we had a good time hamming it up on the purple carpet.
Among the (other!) stars in attendance we spotted TV funnyman Tom Gleisner, stage-pro Bobby Fox, and influencer, Christian Wilkins.
And now while I'm on the subject of my personal life, I need to address something.
I can't expect to write about the lives of others, without being transparent with my readers about my own.
So here goes: More than two years ago, my wife Bree, and I separated. We've since divorced. I don't want to say too much other than it's been hard for us both. Sometimes it's been s**t, to put it frankly.
But Bree and I agree that it's for the best and our priority is now our daughter.
We are both devoted to co-parenting Annabel and I'm determined that Annabel will be raised in a loving, caring and compassionate environment.
That's all I'll say for now.
Note: The subject of the blind item is not named or pictured elsewhere in this article.