Colin Sylvia – Col had the breakout year we've been waiting for him to have. Col was consistent, after preparing himself really well but his only blip was a suspension where he missed three matches and had to come back through Casey. Apart from that, he was able to kick goals, playing as a midfielder/high half-forward. He is a dangerous player, because he is a really good mark for his size and can break through tackles. His decision-making also improved. Col worked really hard to get where he is now but he has to continue that momentum into next year - Sean Wellman on Melbournefc.com.au

Sean Wellman's assessment of Col's 2009 season is spot-on. IMO Col is not far behind Chip Frawley as our most improved in 2009. Has become a vital cog in what will hopefully be a potent midfield combination over the next few years.

The Col Sylvia Xpres has arrived at the station. A little late but with a head of steam raring to go again. Looking forward to his ( hopefully ) continued rise in '10.

Most improved player whom had first proper pre season last year- committed by sining new 2 year agreement. With McLean gone- watch him go.

Great year.

I think it will continue...

Plays with an arrogance that very few of our players have.

Bold.

As our midfield gets better, he should get better and kick more goals. Relies on others to get him the ball, but is up there with Bate and Davey in terms of intelligent kicks into the forward line.

Seeing him iron out Nick Maxwell(?) and his match against Hawthorn were a couple of the highlights of my year. On the latter, it's not often that a player in a side that never even looked like winning the game is far and away the best player on the field. The umpires obviously agreed as per his 3 votes. That was an enormous personal effort. I can't think of many bigger ones in a poor side in my lifetime.

As per the Frawley thread, Sylvia was the second of three reasons why this season was worth watching.

There was an article about his commitment to the cause and his recently developed maturity during the year. We see these every year but this one particularly resonated with me and I believe him 100%. I'm very confident the renaissance will continue next season. I can't wait.

Yeah agree 100% Nash, his game against Hawthorn was phenomenal. One of the best individual performances for MFC in the past three years without question.

Sylvia can become an A-grade midfielder next year and beyond.

Col, you have left me with egg on my face and eating my words - and I couldn't be happier.

If Sylvia can consistently play at the level he showed in a couple of games we'll have a very good player.

It was pretty disappointing that he missed a fair amount of footy following his suspension.

I'm interested to see how he performs in 2010!

Col, you have left me with egg on my face and eating my words - and I couldn't be happier.

youre far from alone

Became my favorite player this season, his game against Hawthorn was superb.

The recipe is looking VERY interesting here...

Sylvia is now one of our few hard nuts that loves a hit (both to receive and dish out)... With Brock now gone, I'm not saying he'll be a clearance player and extractor, but it will be left to him moreso now to fly the flag.

With the absence of older bodies, there's really only a handful... Miller, Jamar, Sylvia, Green, JMac, Moloney, Rivers, Warnock... that are big, hard, and of the right age. There's a bunch of tough younger guys, like Jones, Frawley, Cheney etc etc... but with our hard-at-it figuredhead now gone, there's going to be a void that many can step into. And Sylvia has both an edge on the scoreboard as well as a physical edge to call upon.

If he gets lucky and works hard, he could be a Bluey winner and the tal of this club in twelve months. There's not many standing in his way.

Stuck with him through lots of tough times. If you get the chance to meet him, the 1st thing you notice is that he is very likable and confident. Rapt to see him get his body right and show the footy world that he is still capable of elite performances. Interested to see where he finishes in the Bluey.

Sylvia is now one of our few hard nuts that loves a hit (both to receive

I'm not sure about that. Often he seems happy to let an opponent take first-possession when he's got an even-money (or slightly better) chance at getting it first.

He is a GUN...

Loves kicking goals on the run beyond the ark, Good dukes, and for some people at the start of the year that we should trade him was just stupid, he will be a vital cog in our premiership hunt, playing across half forward/on ball, that game against hawthorn was the best game that I have seen a Melbourne player perform in since Neitz kicked 8 up the gabba one year, 34 touches, 4 goals, only now he has to work a lot harder through out the pre-season to have the same effect on games like he had this year, he cannot live off just one solid season he hast to keep building and building.....

The Sylvia express is well and truly up and about, running express to the Grand final, Not taking any passengers!!!

I'm not sure about that. Often he seems happy to let an opponent take first-possession when he's got an even-money (or slightly better) chance at getting it first.

i th,nk you don't watch col play every often he goes into very contest like a mad men, he is a hard-nut unlike buckley if anyone is near the ball he lets it go to the opp player

I'm not sure about that. Often he seems happy to let an opponent take first-possession when he's got an even-money (or slightly better) chance at getting it first.

Perhaps. I know he loves a big tackle... He could be under instructions as well. He is one of the better users in the team. If you had the choice between him and, say, Bartram for who gets the pill and who kicks from fifty, who do you go with?

i th,nk you don't watch col play every often he goes into very contest like a mad men

I could simply retort that I think you don't closely watch Col play very often but that seems pointless.

I can think of numerous times where there's been a 50/50 loose ball out on the Southern wing and Col certainly hasn't 'gone in like a mad man', but I'm not going to track down footage of our games and then scour through the 'tapes' to prove a point.

It might be that he feels that letting the opponent take possession and then applying a tackle will lead to the best outcome, but this propensity doesn't lead me to think he loves to receive hits. We'll have to agree to disagree.

If you had the choice between him and, say, Bartram for who gets the pill and who kicks from fifty, who do you go with?

Sylvia every time.

IMHO Bartram's skills are the reason why he hasn't yet been recontracted.

I don't think this has much bearing on the original assertion though.

Seeing him iron out Nick Maxwell(?) and his match against Hawthorn were a couple of the highlights of my year. On the latter, it's not often that a player in a side that never even looked like winning the game is far and away the best player on the field. The umpires obviously agreed as per his 3 votes. That was an enormous personal effort. I can't think of many bigger ones in a poor side in my lifetime.

As per the Frawley thread, Sylvia was the second of three reasons why this season was worth watching.

There was an article about his commitment to the cause and his recently developed maturity during the year. We see these every year but this one particularly resonated with me and I believe him 100%. I'm very confident the renaissance will continue next season. I can't wait.

Good summary Nasher. Enough said.

If Sylvia can consistently play at the level he showed in a couple of games we'll have a very good player.

It was pretty disappointing that he missed a fair amount of footy following his suspension.

I'm interested to see how he performs in 2010!

That was disappointing. Along with his average start to the season. Other than that a very good season.

Certainly have seen enough from him this season to be excited for the future