Colin Sylvia - unrestricted free agency

[Dee man 303]

Given that it's a slow-news weekend, the afl website has once again brought up the topic of free agency. At season's end, we've got two players in this boat: Aaron Davey (restricted), and Colin Sylvia (unrestricted).

Apologies if this has been asked before, but how on earth is Colin Sylvia an unrestricted free agent? Ditto Jared Rivers last year. Surely these guys are in the top 25% paid players at the club. And if not, why not? My only explanation is that Clark and Dawes are getting paid overs by so much that they alone take up the top 20% paid players at our club.

I realise that both Sylvia and Rivers have had inconsistent runs since their debut and possibly signed contracts while out of form, but no one has ever doubted their talent and it baffles me that they wouldn't be considered the most valued of players in a club devoid of experienced talent.

For clarification, here are the definitions for restricted/unrestricted free agents:

* A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is one of the top 25 per cent highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service. (restricted free agent):

* A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is not one of the top 25 per cent highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service. (unrestricted free agent)

[rpfc 28,974]

This would be Sylvia's 10th season.

And at the end of his 8th - he re-signed for two.

He is a prototypical Unrestricted FA.

[rpfc 28,974]

You do know that 10 years and you can go wherever you want, yeah?

That's Unrestricted FA.

Maybe you're overlooking that.

[titan_uranus 25,212]

You've missed another part of the rules:

A player has served ten or more seasons of AFL football at one club, has already come out of contract once in the period after serving his first eight or more seasons at his club, and is now out of contract. (Unrestricted free agent)

That's Sylvia.

[Dee man 303]

Ah, there we go. My bad! Got worked up over nothing.

My only response to that is "Sylvia's been on our list for 10 seasons?!?"

[Deemachine 58]

He's technically only played football for 1.5 seasons. The rest of the time he just walks around the field pretending.

Edit: Terrible, terrible spelling.

[Nasher 33,625]

You've missed another part of the rules:

A player has served ten or more seasons of AFL football at one club, has already come out of contract once in the period after serving his first eight or more seasons at his club, and is now out of contract. (Unrestricted free agent)

That's Sylvia.

And any player who signs for two after his 8th season. Weird rule, what's it there to protect against?

[Biffen 12,949]

I remember when he he was a poor young innocent facing court for the very first time.

My how he's grown and matured since then.

We've put up with a lot of his youthful mistakes and somehow he's still here.

If Robbo says he's staying that's pretty good mail for me.

We may get three or four years of good footy from him.

Who knows.

[rpfc 28,974]

And any player who signs for two after his 8th season. Weird rule, what's it there to protect against?

They are just arbitrary years.

They went to the US and copied the MLB's tenure-based FA (years on a list), and the NFL's convoluted compensatory picks model (net loss/gain = 1 pick or zero picks).

They didn't think it through properly IMO.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,398]

I'm confused. Goddard played 10 seasons with St Kilda and yet Saints had the opportunity to match Essendon's offer.

[rpfc 28,974]

I'm confused. Goddard played 10 seasons with St Kilda and yet Saints had the opportunity to match Essendon's offer.

Because that was the first time he came out of contract after 8 years of service.

Sylvia was OOC after 8 years and he got 2 more years - therefore he is UFA.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,398]

Because that was the first time he came out of contract after 8 years of service.

Sylvia was OOC after 8 years and he got 2 more years - therefore he is UFA.

Cheers. Understood.

[junk 342]

If we get pick 128 or thereabout for Sylvia it would be great. Think about it ,he's never been in the dees best 3 during his 8 yrs yet some people still idolise him.

[Undeeterred 3,127]

Ain't going anywhere.

We'll pay him a fortune to stay and nobody else will pay him to leave.

[dazzledavey36 56,000]

Did anyone see Sylvia give Fitzy a massive spray for not hitting him with a handball in the center? Col went ballistic! but as usual when Collingwood gobbled it up Sylvia just jogged away..

[Still Waiting 94]

Sylvia played today ??

[TheoX 1,222]

Sylvia played today ??

Yes, and he was one of our best.

[What 18,810]

Col needs to stay, and our next coach will do whatever it takes to keep him