I thought this deserved its own thread.

I spoke with Bailey at last nights function and asked him who of our players was looking the goods on the track and train the house down.

Without hestitation he happily told us Colin Sylvia was having his best pre-season to date and looking a million dollars.

Up until this week (when he rolled his ankle slightly) he hadn't missed a session or any drills. He is not on any modified program and he is relishing the opportunity to do a full pre-season for the first time and is completing all training with flying colours.

When asked where he will play, DB said he would play a lot more time in the midfield next season.

DB was confident Col would be back on the track in no time and that Col was absolute spewing that he had rolled his ankle.

All in all very good news about one of my favourite players.

Good on ya Col, keep it up.

Haydo,

That's good to hear. I could not make last night's function, due to a prior appointment.

Was anything else of interest spoken about? Any whispers on a possible major sponsor?

I,ve been hoping since the end of last season for just this news.

2009 should be the year for col to move from being a good contributor to potential star for us.

Do i get the feeling we a building a very physically tough and strong side for the future!

Awesome!!

I would've been gutted if we traded Col - espcially considering we would've only fetched a 4th rounder given the reluctance of giving up picks this year.

Sylvia played his best footy last year, and some of his late season games very good.

It took 5 years for Cooney to finally stamp his mark in the AFL. Now it may be the time for the bloke who was picked up 2 spots later in the 03 draft to finally stamp his mark.

That's the thing about Col isn't it... We've all gotten so used to just waiting, it's as if we're just resigned to the fact he'll continue in much the same will-he-won't-he fashion for the rest of his career...

But if he WERE to actually play a season unhindered by major setbacks, or form curtailing pain... he would actually be the kind of player sponsors, members and potential barrackers could really be excited about. People ca it X-factor... but more specifically, I would say I am most excited by the fact that Colin is a player that could potentially make opposition fans and coaches take a moments' pause. Sort of more a fear factor than an X factor...

Think Andrew Symonds in the AUstralian side. He gets a game because opposition players must tremble juuust a little when they know he's coming.. not necessarily because he's definitely going to dominate, but because if he DOES switch it on, there'll be hell to pay.

With that in mind... how many guys on MFC's current list make opposition supporters and coaches worry? I'd say probably zero. Maybe Brock, but even his influence can be curtailed in the current list as his exploits against taggers have shown. So out of the other 32, how many could POTENTIALLY be considered dangerous players?

Col's one of only a few.

- Maybe Morton one day... certainly a long way from it yet.

- Davey is too hot and cold, and is only really scary when he has support and is playing close to goals, where his inventiveness pays big dividends.

- Robbo in his day did, but probably won't anymore.

- Wonna is a long way from striking fear into anyones heart, but he's off to a good start.

Depressing when you look at it like this. Which puts Col's skillset into perspective. If he can really muscle into a game and apply a physical presence along with his pace and marking ability which are both considerable... and then you add a 60 metre kick... I know if there was a FIT player like that in an opposition team I'd be concerned come match day.

With that in mind... how many guys on MFC's current list make opposition supporters and coaches worry? I'd say probably zero. Maybe Brock, but even his influence can be curtailed in the current list as his exploits against taggers have shown. So out of the other 32, how many could POTENTIALLY be considered dangerous players?

Great question Dan.

In the olden days (04-06) it was Trapper, Davey, Bruce, Green, Neitz and Robbo.

I don't know whether people would worry about Brock. He's more of a workhorse who will get you 26 touches but hardly hurts you on the scoreboard - 2 goals in 2008 case in point.

Davey is the man that strikes fear. Although he seems to be getting more inconsistent by the year, he still knows how to hurt the opposition.

Here's hoping Sylvia becomes that man. He certainly cause Brisbane concern with his 4 effortless goals all from around 45-50 out.

Great question Dan.

In the olden days (04-06) it was Trapper, Davey, Bruce, Green, Neitz and Robbo.

I don't know whether people would worry about Brock. He's more of a workhorse who will get you 26 touches but hardly hurts you on the scoreboard - 2 goals in 2008 case in point.

Davey is the man that strikes fear. Although he seems to be getting more inconsistent by the year, he still knows how to hurt the opposition.

Here's hoping Sylvia becomes that man. He certainly cause Brisbane concern with his 4 effortless goals all from around 45-50 out.

Hmm. I seem to have mentioned goalkickers there... and that's to be expected... but midfielders strike fear. Especially the ones that stream forward damagingly... a la Goodes, Judd, Bateman etc etc... Brock may not have searing pace... and I must admit I'm always stunned at 1/4 or 1/2 time when I look up at the scoreboard and see Brock is 5 possessions clear of the next highest possession getter. But yes... he's never been a guy that makes the opposition cheer squad go quiet... which is what we all like to see.

Davey, I'm not sure people are really that terrified of him TBH. The last time I saw him contribute to the destruction of a team was that amazing second half comeback at the G a few years ago... and on that day Neitz kicked 8 anyway... To give you some idea, Milne has done more to be considered dangerous than Aaron, and that's saying something...

Interesting stuff though.

We don't have a single player on our list that opposition fear. Not one. In Davey's first season he terrorized a few defenders with his rundowns, but most teams have a player that does that now.

We've got a lot of players that slot nicely in the 6-22 positions in a side and crap all to fill 1-5.

I really hope Col steps up this year. I actually thought he had a reasonable year in 2008 anyway.

We don't have a single player on our list that opposition fear. Not one. In Davey's first season he terrorized a few defenders with his rundowns, but most teams have a player that does that now.

We've got a lot of players that slot nicely in the 6-22 positions in a side and crap all to fill 1-5.

I really hope Col steps up this year. I actually thought he had a reasonable year in 2008 anyway.

Agree and a good summation of where things are at.

I,ve been hoping since the end of last season for just this news.

Been waiting for 5 years for a full pre season from Col.

We don't have a single player on our list that opposition fear. Not one. In Davey's first season he terrorized a few defenders with his rundowns, but most teams have a player that does that now.

We've got a lot of players that slot nicely in the 6-22 positions in a side and crap all to fill 1-5.

I really hope Col steps up this year. I actually thought he had a reasonable year in 2008 anyway.

Yes, I thought 2008 was a good year from him personally, despite all our losses. A good stepping stone for 2009.

Fwiw, I don't believe we've had a single player on our list that opposition fear since...? (Still thinking).......

Brad Green, Brock and maybe N.Jones - definately high rated players.

The issue is that we don't have another 3-4 so when they cop the close attention no one else stands up.

But if Col can step up, along with Maloney and if cam bruce can rediscover himself we are well on the way. Grimes and Carl morton look like gems and buckley is on the verge as well. so in 2 yrs add watts/nick nak and a couple more and were starting to build a good list of "A" players some of which will take the next step to "AA". P.Johnson if he can stay fit will also be apart of this list.

All of a sudden things are looking up but really col and maloney are who a lot of this rests on next year, and I believe if they step up a couple of others will come along for the ride as well.

Grimes and Carl morton look like gems and buckley is on the verge as well.

Carl?

I posted the following Demonology:

Firstly, thanks to Haydo for all of the info in recent times. Much appreciated

Secondly, Dad and I went to training out at Casey this morning and to all Col Silvia fans, you would be very happy. He looked a million bucks, fast, strong and very upbeat

I don't have time to do much of a training report yet as I have a day off today to get many many home duties done which if they spill over into tomorrow I won't get to listen to the draft :-)

Will post later, not allot to tell though.

cheers

Carl?

that adds a lot to the discussion,

makes me feel better knowing this!

Was anything else of interest spoken about?

Check the Mates of Melbourne function thread in the draft forum

Up until this week (when he rolled his ankle slightly) he hadn't missed a session or any drills. He is not on any modified program and he is relishing the opportunity to do a full pre-season for the first time and is completing all training with flying colours.

I went to training out at Casey on Friday 14/11/08 (ended up at an indoor stadium down the road due to how wet the oval was) as I was walking in Colin was hobbling off with his "rolled ankle" was taken away by one of the support staff to have it attended to and never returned.

I went to training out at Casey on Friday 14/11/08 (ended up at an indoor stadium down the road due to how wet the oval was) as I was walking in Colin was hobbling off with his "rolled ankle" was taken away by one of the support staff to have it attended to and never returned.

Ok. Haydo said he rolled it this week. Now Big Kev says the 14th November. It's now the 28th. How bad is it? Will he get back on deck soon? Is the club holding back some news we don't really want to hear? Is it just a rolled ankle?

Or am I just blowing Col's ankle situation all out of proportion?

Ok. Haydo said he rolled it this week. Now Big Kev says the 14th November. It's now the 28th. How bad is it? Will he get back on deck soon? Is the club holding back some news we don't really want to hear? Is it just a rolled ankle?

Or am I just blowing Col's ankle situation all out of proportion?

Col trained hard and fast today, very impressive on the track. He said g'day as he walked past, i said looking pretty sharp and he said he was feeling or training great

Col trained hard and fast today, very impressive on the track. He said g'day as he walked past, i said looking pretty sharp and he said he was feeling or training great

Happy with that report melbman. Cheers.

Colin will be in the leadership group in 09. Bookmark it. If he has a good year and McDonald is named captain would not surprise me to see him be named captain. His leadership skills are rated very highly at Melbounre

Colin will be in the leadership group in 09. Bookmark it. If he has a good year and McDonald is named captain would not surprise me to see him be named captain. His leadership skills are rated very highly at Melbounre

Sorry Neita no disrespect intended, but if Col wins the Brownlow in 2009 he still should have absolutely NO chance of being captain in 2010. He's shown very little to date and 1 season doesn't make a captain.

Sorry Neita no disrespect intended, but if Col wins the Brownlow in 2009 he still should have absolutely NO chance of being captain in 2010. He's shown very little to date and 1 season doesn't make a captain.

He's shown a bit this year IMO, despite the teams poor performances.

I think he needs to fix his footy smarts just as much as he needs to fix his body.

Drives me mental more than any player on our list

Sorry Neita no disrespect intended, but if Col wins the Brownlow in 2009 he still should have absolutely NO chance of being captain in 2010. He's shown very little to date and 1 season doesn't make a captain.

Though actually winning it will make him the media darling, and put him in contention. Mostly because of our lack of leaders.

Not holding my breath though... let's just get more than half a season out of him first.

Loving the thought of a fit Sylvia in the midfield.... The bloke has the body of a german tank.... Let's just hope he is well oiled and serviced regularly (which i'm sure wouldn't be a problem for him... hahaha)

Bring on 2009.... We may just turn a few heads I reckon..... If nothing else, at least others will start to realise the potential we have on our list....