Colin Sylvia going ... going ... GONE!

[Machsy 2,856]

This sucks.

It's hard to find any senior players who actually finish their career at the MFC on good terms.

Davey?

Also, have you noticed how well careers are ending at Geelong?

Hunt, Chapman and Pods all will be looking for new homes, not retiring.

It's football.

[Dockett 32 1,213]

Good system this. The rich clubs get the cream while the poor clubs lose experienced players for no compensation. The system is stuffed.

Correct. Clearly a crock of a system cooked up by the players association, stronger clubs and player managers and fully endorsed by the AFL. The sad thing is was always going to end up like this. Just taken a bit longer than many thought. So welcome to the new "no loyalty, bargain bonanza" available only to those with strong balance sheets or COLA benefits, or other subsidised fledgling clubs . Equalization trips? Worthless jaunts.

[ThreeOneSix 953]

Maybe it'd work better if RFAs and UFAs (but not DFAs) had to be sorted before the trade period begins, and the team signing the FA loses their pick in the corresponding band?

There's gotta be some way of equalising it.

I understand the compo system atm is all over shop, but those who'd like to see compo scrapped, do you not see that is would exacerbate the situation?

It will make the strong teams stronger, add onto this that Sydney is getting an extra million in comparison to the MFC - who can't even pay to our salary cap capacity.

The stronger sides in the past have had better development in order to maximize potential, better facilities in order to maximize potential - and to aid in player welfare.

If the stronger sides get better compo, due to having better performed players, they will then be able to maximize that compo and get the most out of it.

Therein a second rounders for Sydney will end up better than a first rounder for say Melbourne or Bullies.

But, I will give the AFL the benefit of the doubt until they hand out the compo, but just going off what Port got last year, we should get a second rounder.

The top sides are trying to make everything in the AFL equal, but they fail to take into account the sides down the bottom of the ladder.

If the AFL was to drop everything, make things equal, that would suit the top sides, they have better lists, etc.

They only way the AFL could do it would be to compo sides until they are on a level playing field - but then who would decide that everythings level? Vlad? Pftt.

[Pennant St Dee 11,257]

Where does West Coast sit in the hatred rankings? I don't live in WA, so I never have to deal with it on the same level, but I've never really felt either way about Freo. They're always that pitiful purple club in my mind. Further, they've had less success than even us since their inception. West Coast hatred I can understand, but the Purple People? I'd just pat them on the head. The more I think about it, the more I begin to wonder whether Lyon's coaching style can win the ultimate prize. His teams have absolutely crumbled in big finals.

A lot less hatred towards Freo at least their supporters are genuine footy people who understand the game. On Lyons game plan I really don't buy that it can't stand up. Bounced the wrong way against the Pies in 2010 when Milne was free running in. 2009 they kicked themselves out of it and Freo's players froze last week the game plan was just not executed the way it should have been and their kicking was terrible.

[P-man 13,168]

Even if i accept the tenet of your argument, which I don't, as my eyes tell me that Sylvia is an ordinary midfielder, I was responding to a poster that thought Sylvia's "numbers" were good.

Surely you accept that they're decidedly average by industry standard. Or do you need more evidence ?

Even if we accept that his stats on their own are average, he's still one of less than a handful in the side you'd even be able to call average.

Never came close to value, but he was definitely building the past couple of seasons. Notably ranked 16th in the league for inside 50s, between Montagna and Wingard. That's a chief ball user in terms of forward entries, in an already terrible side, that won't be there to provide some service. It's great we've got Hogan, but he's not much use if he's collecting dust at one end of the ground.

As a person and leader I don't give a rats, but in terms of talent and on form, he is a bad loss, and will need to be suitably replaced.

[pm24 451]

Why is it that when I first saw this I thought, it must be Neelds fault. I mean the departures of free agents last year was Neelds fault......wasn't it??

[FireUp 67]

Well I'm angry. He has admitted that he hasn't given us 100 per cent. I still think he can be a gun and we need him. Not good enough Colin. The system is tough when you are near bottom. Boo.

Could have shown some character Colin: I have looked at offers but can't leave my club with my held high as I haven't given my all.

[Dockett 32 1,213]

Yep... and they want zero compo in the future.

Gets better by the second doesn't it.

[pm24 451]

I've got no problem with Sylvia leaving. He's given 10 years to the club, and I put him down as just another player that we failed to develop to his best potential. He probably had his best season for us last season, so it's disappointing to see him leave, but when a guy has an opportunity to go to a club that just played in a grand final while he has only a few more years of football left, I don't begrudge him for taking it.

He owes us nothing. It's his life, and his career so he can make the choices he wants to. This is why the players wanted free agency.

[Hannibal 5,814]

He is an average midfielder in comparison to others however unfortunately he was one of our best and we continue to see our best players leave.

Not saying he's a world beater, or saying Moloney or Rivers are star players but there losses certainly hurt us more than it would if they left a top club.

I wanted Col to stay and have stuck up for him previously backing him as a solid enough player. Now he has left he can EAD and we all move on.

I hear what you're saying, but I suppose I accepted a while ago that the players from the Daniher/Bailey eras aren't part of any premiership tilt. We really are starting again and Sylvia is a remnant of that sad sorry past.

I'm just as happy to draw a line as we move forward.

[FireUp 67]

Maybe we fans can just write to the afl and say we will only buy a membership or go to a game if we can make finals. We are asked to be loyal bu it counts for nothing.

[BrisbaneDemon 1,494]

Here we go again, so now we have lost Beamer, Rivers and Sylvia to FA & Davey has retired. This is starting to get very concerning for the MFC, if Frawley leaves next year that means we have not convinced (excluding Beamer) one FA to stay. I really hope Paul Roos can work his magic over the next two years or we'll be in a lot of trouble. Clubs like West coast, Fremantle, Hawthorne, Essendon, Carlton, Adelaide & Collingwood must have been rubbing their hands together when this got passed, it just makes the likes of us, St Kilda, Bulldogs, Port so vulnerable. All they have to do is promise a player is that they'll win games and play finals footy and bingo they're gone.

Im worried Demonlanders!

[dees189227 10,762]

Wow I wonder if Roos will get bagged for letting another experienced player go like Neeld did last year. I doubt it and I dont want that happen but it will be interesting to see how the media treat us next season compared to last.

Anyway if Col stayed I would had been happy but hearing him want to leave doesn't surprise me and im not bothered. Lets face it over the 10 years he hasnt been playing like a number 3 draft pick. Especially when you compare him to other players that have gone #3. Col's getting older and wants to play finals. I sort of get that. I would have been more devastated if Watts left or next year we lose Frawley.

I think he may get a shock under Ross Lyon. He takes no prisoners and is so hard on his players. When he was at the saints he wouldn't let a player take an exam for his study because he said you are an afl footy player. Im pretty sure he wont get away with anything.

Interesting to see this in the herald sun. COLIN Sylvia says he will always think of himself as a Melbourne person as he packs his bags to join Fremantle

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Disappointed, but not shattered. I still think we'd be better off with him than without. Oh well.

My thoughts exactly.

[GawnWithTheWind 604]

Here we go again, so now we have lost Beamer, Rivers and Sylvia to FA & Davey has retired. This is starting to get very concerning for the MFC, if Frawley leaves next year that means we have not convinced (excluding Beamer) one FA to stay. I really hope Paul Roos can work his magic over the next two years or we'll be in a lot of trouble. Clubs like West coast, Fremantle, Hawthorne, Essendon, Carlton, Adelaide & Collingwood must have been rubbing their hands together when this got passed, it just makes the likes of us, St Kilda, Bulldogs, Port so vulnerable. All they have to do is promise a player is that they'll win games and play finals footy and bingo they're gone.

Im worried Demonlanders!

Beamer didnt set the world on fire when he left. Neelds fault for him leaving

Rivers left on good terms, had 1-2 years left of his body.. wanted to play finals. = we treated him well

Colin seems to have very little mates left at the club, wants to play finals.

Nothing worrying out of those 3. And as Colin will find out, the grass isnt always greener...

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,875]

Between Davey and Sylvia we should have close to a mil freed up.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Even if i accept the tenet of your argument, which I don't, as my eyes tell me that Sylvia is an ordinary midfielder, I was responding to a poster that thought Sylvia's "numbers" were good.

Surely you accept that they're decidedly average by industry standard. Or do you need more evidence ?

Come on now BH.

You've turned someone's post which was saying Silvia was more important to our list than others have suggested (which is sub industry standard) to a comparison of the Swan's midfield (significantly above industry standard) - not to mention a specific comparison to Mitchell who is an exemption nonetheless when it comes to rookies.

As Theox said - you're not comparing apples to apples; you're trying to compare tomatoes to Japanese Watermelon.

[DeeSpencer 23,124]

Why is it that when I first saw this I thought, it must be Neelds fault. I mean the departures of free agents last year was Neelds fault......wasn't it??

A lot of blame on Sylvia leaving can be attributed to Neeld.

If we had a coach who actually saw us win some games over the last 2 years Sylvia would be tempted to stay.

If we had a coach that didn't ship off Sylvia's best mate in Moloney but actually got him committed to doing his absolute best to play 2 way running hard and contested footy we probably would've seen Sylvia stay.

But Neeld went down a road of youth and getting rid of under performers instead of rehabilitating them and that's fair enough. He just didn't expect us being so bad obviously.

It really doesn't take much for us to become a destination club. Sure we wont be preferenced over the big boys and top 4 but if we just get out of the bottom 4 then we will have the cash to bring some decent fringe players along for the ride.

[dee-luded 2,958]

Not sad and not glad about Col's decision .... just neutral, neither here nor there, hopefully move on to something better.

sadly Deeoldfart, I've been feeling like that re the clubs players for the last 8 or 9 Years.... this is one of the reasons why I'm losing interest in AFL footy.

I'm just so tired of the clubs perennial soft culture, from the Superboxes down to the Bench.

I can't even bring myself to watch the Grandfinal anymore. probably watched not more than 35 minutes of it.

To me now, its just about repairing this club to learn why its failed & hopefully to have it become what Checker Hughes had previously turned it into. its slipped back to pre Checker ways.

.... its default cultural position.

[DeeSpencer 23,124]

Between Davey and Sylvia we should have close to a mil freed up.

Operation find a midfielder who wants it and a club who wants pick 2.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Between Davey and Sylvia we should have close to a mil freed up.

To spend on who? More aging has-beens looking for super payments? Better start a fund for Frawley because the odds say he is goneski!

This FA isn't working out so well for us!

[dees189227 10,762]

By the way how about collingwood. They have lost Thomas to Carlton, ditched Krakour, Jolly and Didak and lost johnson to retirement. Also will probably lose Shaw. But I bet Bucks doesnt cop it from the media.

[pm24 451]

A lot of blame on Sylvia leaving can be attributed to Neeld.

If we had a coach who actually saw us win some games over the last 2 years Sylvia would be tempted to stay.

If we had a coach that didn't ship off Sylvia's best mate in Moloney but actually got him committed to doing his absolute best to play 2 way running hard and contested footy we probably would've seen Sylvia stay.

But Neeld went down a road of youth and getting rid of under performers instead of rehabilitating them and that's fair enough. He just didn't expect us being so bad obviously.

It really doesn't take much for us to become a destination club. Sure we wont be preferenced over the big boys and top 4 but if we just get out of the bottom 4 then we will have the cash to bring some decent fringe players along for the ride.

So you don't think four years of losing prior to Neeld, under Bailey, might have also influenced his decision to move given he hasn't experienced a successful season for over 6 years???

[Dockett 32 1,213]

To spend on who? More aging has-beens looking for super payments? Better start a fund for Frawley because the odds say he is goneski!

This FA isn't working out so well for us!

Its designed not to.

[beelzebub 22,225]

Between Davey and Sylvia we should have close to a mil freed up.

doubt it..Daveys were front loaded and Col was on what...450 ??

you might find maybe 8HK...no more Id suggest