12. Colin Sylvia [186 cm 87 kg 11.08.85 – 70 games (18 in 2008) 47 goals (16 in 2008)] - an early indiscretion saw him earn the wrath of the leadership group and miss the opening game slaughter due to suspension but he came back to show his best form yet at the club.

Many will say however, that what he showed was still below the level of expectation that had for this talented youngster drafted with pick # 3 in 2003. He was once considered a potential top line midfielder but was tried all over the ground this year and showed his best form up forward.

Clearly his best season in terms of games, goals, stats and consistency output. May be just about to hit his straps and potentially become a top 50 player in the AFL. And he's finally ready to embark on a full..yes full pre season.

Talks of trading him are redicoulous considering we'd only be able to fetch a third round draft pick for him.

Colin Sylvia: What hasnt already been said by us at some time <_<

Probably the player at the club who raises the most ire for the very fact that somewhere inside him is a very very good player and that despite teasing glimpses its very very likely thats where it will stay.

Either he steps right up to the plate in 09 and seizes it, makes it his and repays the clubs investment or Im sure the patience of the club wil lbe exhausted, I know mine just about is.

Well Col..its up to you

Personally my opinion has changed on him this year. Up until this year my expectation has been high, I have been waiting for him to "arrive" and I believed after this arrival he would a star. Now I just expect him to be able to make the team and add something to it.

Clearly his best season in terms of games, goals, stats and consistency output. May be just about to hit his straps and potentially become a top 50 player in the AFL. And he's finally ready to embark on a full..yes full pre season.

Talks of trading him are redicoulous considering we'd only be able to fetch a third round draft pick for him.

Correct. He is on the way up.

Correct. He is on the way up.

He's been supposedly on the way UP ever since he started...Just where and what exactly is UP ?..and when does he get there ??

Great footy brain, but is running out of time. At a better club he would have been dropped already.

However, his back half of the season was good at times, and inspired at other times.

Chance to be traded but more worth to us on the field than a 3rd round pick.

He's been supposedly on the way UP ever since he started...Just where and what exactly is UP ?..and when does he get there ??

On the way UP is = Improvements in game, check his stats for this year against his previous years, it is more consistent and an improvement on previous years. It's not about where or who...... It's about getting to more contests, being a valuable contributor on a consistent basis, within the confines of the team. Too many people expect a level of requirement such as a Buckley, a Harvey, a Judd, a Voss, a Brown....its not going to get to that level. It would be nice, but it won't happen.

Chance to be traded but more worth to us on the field than a 3rd round pick.

This undoubtedly the reality of it....hence he'll probably get another year to breathe deserving or otherwise.

I'd take a 2nd rounder ( even latish ) for him..would be no more of a gamble , cheaper..and more upside long term.

On the way UP is = Improvements in game, check his stats for this year against his previous years, it is more consistent and an improvement on previous years. It's not about where or who...... It's about getting to more contests, being a valuable contributor on a consistent basis, within the confines of the team. Too many people expect a level of requirement such as a Buckley, a Harvey, a Judd, a Voss, a Brown....its not going to get to that level. It would be nice, but it won't happen.

HT..I care not for stats.. I can make then spin and dance.. I go more by what I see. You can SEE effectiveness on a field. He isnt THAT effective for all his efforts. Yes ..been better this latter half..But boy he'd want to be huh!!

I dont want him working within the confines of the team..I want him to EXPAND them !! he doesnt ...he should with his talent.

when we have a solid team who contribute evenly each week, Sylvia will be a match winner. Don't expect him to reach these heights you all talk of next year, as the team is still young and developing.

Why shouldnt we expect to be more than he is? He has the capabilities & now he needs to improve on what he did this year. Too many times he improves & then falls backwards. As a senior guy in the team (in age & exp), he must step up.

He will never be be the guy we build a forward line around - but he certainly can be someone who can help our younger forwards.

when we have a solid team who contribute evenly each week, Sylvia will be a match winner. Don't expect him to reach these heights you all talk of next year, as the team is still young and developing.

. Too many times he improves & then falls backwards. As a senior guy in the team (in age & exp), he must step up.

yep..the Guy ought to be sponsored by Russell........thats Yo-Yos ..not Athletics !!

It goes like this... Colin failed to live up to our high expectations, so we dropped our expectations somewhat. Slowly but surely he improves until he began to surpass the rather low expectations we had set for him. Maybe this is the key with Col, don't build him up to be something that he is not. At the rate he is going now he will end up being a solid contributor. Full stop!

There was a shot for goal late in the third quarter against Essendon a couple of months ago that Colin took. It just seemed to me that there was something about that kick. 45 meters out on a 45 degree angle. A tough shot on a windy day, but one that would put us in front for the first time.

I was sitting all alone in my room and said aloud to no-one in particular "This is it. If Colin makes this shot, he'll make it. If he doesn't, then that's it." He made the shot.

We lost the game, but I am now inexplicably convinced that given the time he deserves, Colin Sylvia the #3 draft pick will transform into the player we all know he can be.

...

Phew

There was a shot for goal late in the third quarter against Essendon a couple of months ago that Colin took. It just seemed to me that there was something about that kick. 45 meters out on a 45 degree angle. A tough shot on a windy day, but one that would put us in front for the first time.

I was sitting all alone in my room and said aloud to no-one in particular "This is it. If Colin makes this shot, he'll make it. If he doesn't, then that's it." He made the shot.

We lost the game, but I am now inexplicably convinced that given the time he deserves, Colin Sylvia the #3 draft pick will transform into the player we all know he can be.

hes still only 21/22ish so maybe...but i doubt it for some reason

There was a shot for goal late in the third quarter against Essendon a couple of months ago that Colin took. It just seemed to me that there was something about that kick. 45 meters out on a 45 degree angle. A tough shot on a windy day, but one that would put us in front for the first time.

I was sitting all alone in my room and said aloud to no-one in particular "This is it. If Colin makes this shot, he'll make it. If he doesn't, then that's it." He made the shot.

We lost the game, but I am now inexplicably convinced that given the time he deserves, Colin Sylvia the #3 draft pick will transform into the player we all know he can be.

I'm with you all the way there Chook... I reckon he was in our top 5-7 players this year without playing anywhere near what he is capable of. He has these moments of brilliance, which are starting to occur more frequently and he is starting to find more and more of the pill. I hate all the 'full pre-season under his belt' lines that get trotted out but if ever there was a player that seems most likely to benefit from such a thing its Col. Also, the way he just smashes the contest and the man is an asset only shared by a few others in the side.

I don't know HOW good he'll get, or WHERE he'll end up playing but I'm pretty confident he will just continue to get better and better and may well win a B+F in 2-3 years. Take a a look at this year's AA side, the only bloke from Sylvia's year is Cooney, with Hodge the year before, both of whom were pick number 1 and both had the benefit of playing in quality sides. When you realise his development has gotten off to a slow start due to injury you see that Sylvia's peak is yet to come.

hes still only 21/22ish so maybe...but i doubt it for some reason

What reason is that?

i've always been to ing and fro ing on col

but i reckon leave him- we wont get anything decent for him, and he showed a bit this yr- touch wood, he gets no injuries, trains the house down pre-season- im hoping DB really gets stuck into the players because this year was totally unacceptable, they'll know it, but they should still be hurting from some of those losses. we need to draft well, and perhaps pick up a few guys like mundy, thomson, maybe rosa, warnock is going to carlton unfortunately ( or so everyone is saying).

I stuck up for Sylvs most of his career but towards the end of the year I lost it with him, I think he should be called glimpses, cos that is all we will get off him for the rest of his career, glimpses.

God I hope I'm wrong. I loved watching him at U18's level.

.......Also, the way he just smashes the contest and the man is an asset only shared by a few others in the side.

Yeah, just ask Ryan Ferguson. F@#$ked him totally, ruined his career and he was on Sylvia's side!! Friendly fire is not an asset.

Yeah, just ask Ryan Ferguson. F@#$ked him totally, ruined his career and he was on Sylvia's side!! Friendly fire is not an asset.

Ferg was a dud and MFC held onto him too long.

I have the utmost confidence in Sylvia turning into one of our best players.

Very good year for Col.

Finished 3rd in the Demonology Player of the Year, and people know their footy over there.

If anyone thinks he had a bad year or he wont get even better in 2009, then just leave the board immediately as you are embarassing yourselves.