Colin Sylvia and the Sandover Medal

[Droughts 6]

I admit that I didn't have my glasses on when I read his votes in the WAFL sandover count BUT I couldn't see his name.

Cale got 8 votes and his brother got 7 votes so how good is Col getting a fat zero?

What a dud?

Ross Lyon s comment --Freo need to go too the draft and get some bona fide free agents couldn't have been a dig at waste of space Col could it?

[ManDee 7,222]

I admit that I didn't have my glasses on when I read his votes in the WAFL sandover count BUT I couldn't see his name.

Cale got 8 votes and his brother got 7 votes so how good is Col getting a fat zero?

What a dud?

Ross Lyon s comment --Freo need to go too the draft and get some bona fide free agents couldn't have been a dig at waste of space Col could it?

You're a bit harsh on Col aren't you?

He has such potential. He can kick, he can mark, he can tackle, he can get the ball, he just can't be buggered doing it consistently.

[Nasher 33,617]

I wasn't expecting Sylvia to smash it, but it's really surprised me in the level in which he has been a complete and utter bust over there. They'd have to be pretty disappointed, I reckon.

Suckers.

[Red Demon 67]

Geez people need to move on.

We are one of the worst teams in the comp. We have no A grade players. We have been rubbish for close to a decade. We are a laughing stock.

Let's address our own issues before having a go at someone else.

The joke's on us - we were the ones who drafted him in the first round. And there are probably another 5-6 first rounders on our list who are going the same way.

But hey, if it makes you feel better to have a go at an ex-player, knock yourself out. If you want to take a shot at the miserable performance of a former first round draft pick, there are plenty who deserve it - Trengove, Toumpas, Blease, Strauss, Tapscott, Watts, Grimes to mention a few...

[ManDee 7,222]

Geez people need to move on.

We are one of the worst teams in the comp. We have no A grade players. We are a laughing stock.

Let's address our own issues before having a go at someone else.

We have moved on, and aren't we glad.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

I am sure with a full pre-season next year he will take it out.

[dazzledavey36 55,319]

Jeez and they have another 2 more years to put up with him.

Jack Anthony all over again.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

The joke's on us - we were the ones who drafted him in the first round. And there are probably another 5-6 first rounders on our list who are going the same way.

sad but true

[ManDee 7,222]

Geez people need to move on.

We are one of the worst teams in the comp. We have no A grade players. We have been rubbish for close to a decade. We are a laughing stock.

Let's address our own issues before having a go at someone else.

The joke's on us - we were the ones who drafted him in the first round. And there are probably another 5-6 first rounders on our list who are going the same way.

But hey, if it makes you feel better to have a go at an ex-player, knock yourself out. If you want to take a shot at the miserable performance of a former first round draft pick, there are plenty who deserve it - Trengove, Toumpas, Blease, Strauss, Tapscott, Watts, Grimes to mention a few...

The points I think you miss are that other clubs rated Sylvia highly, not just us,

Even after seeing what he was like with us Freo still rated him. And they can't get him to perform. So it was not us it was him.

[chookrat 4,268]

I think Silvia's performance (or lack of) at Freo is an indictment on our poor culture over the past 7 or so years. He joined us as a talented player with all of the attributes to be a star but lacked the qualities to achieve his potential in a poor development environment. If he had developed in a better system I would expect him to be a star.

Before anyone brings up Nathan Jones as a player who has successfully developed in our club environment I think it has alot to do with his qualities as an individual - competitive nature, resilience, discipline.

I'd expect one of two things from Silvia next season:

1. He will wallow in the WAFL for the remainder of his contract

2. He will apply himself and become an important factor in Freo's finals success

Talent is not Col's issue, but rather application.

[binman 43,761]

Red Demon, i think you miss an important point. This can only be considered a stunning recruiting success (even if it was triggered by Col deciding to chase premiership glory - thanks Col).

Col goes and we get Bernie. Pure gold. Even a cursory glance at DL would show how terrible people think our recruiting has been over the (very long) journey. Lets celebrate this success and wish Col all the best at fulfilling his god given talent.

[ManDee 7,222]

I think Silvia's performance (or lack of) at Freo is an indictment on our poor culture over the past 7 or so years. He joined us as a talented player with all of the attributes to be a star but lacked the qualities to achieve his potential in a poor development environment. If he had developed in a better system I would expect him to be a star.

Before anyone brings up Nathan Jones as a player who has successfully developed in our club environment I think it has alot to do with his qualities as an individual - competitive nature, resilience, discipline.

I'd expect one of two things from Silvia next season:

1. He will wallow in the WAFL for the remainder of his contract

2. He will apply himself and become an important factor in Freo's finals success

Talent is not Col's issue, but rather application.

I think you have provided the argument against yourself here.

[P-man 13,366]

Geez people need to move on.

We are one of the worst teams in the comp. We have no A grade players. We have been rubbish for close to a decade. We are a laughing stock.

Let's address our own issues before having a go at someone else.

The joke's on us - we were the ones who drafted him in the first round. And there are probably another 5-6 first rounders on our list who are going the same way.

But hey, if it makes you feel better to have a go at an ex-player, knock yourself out. If you want to take a shot at the miserable performance of a former first round draft pick, there are plenty who deserve it - Trengove, Toumpas, Blease, Strauss, Tapscott, Watts, Grimes to mention a few...

We need to take our wins (and associated gloating) where we can get them.

Vince for Sylvia was one that we knocked out of the park.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

I think Silvia's performance (or lack of) at Freo is an indictment on our poor culture over the past 7 or so years.

Alternatively, it could be an indictment of a talented bludger.

[rjay 25,088]

I think Silvia's performance (or lack of) at Freo is an indictment on our poor culture over the past 7 or so years. He joined us as a talented player with all of the attributes to be a star but lacked the qualities to achieve his potential in a poor development environment. If he had developed in a better system I would expect him to be a star.

...but he didn't have all the attributes to be a star. He was never going to be a star no matter what development or application he had.

[Guest]

Bernie and Col are good examples of knowing where to draw lines.
Bernie is a bit of a lad who drives a ute, plays cricket in the offseason and has been known to enjoy a beer in the offseason as well (so much so he was dancing around the pub in his underwear after his grade club in Adelaide won the premiership). He looks at times to be pretty laid back in his approach. However, the most trouble we have gotten out of Bernie this year has been when he got lost on the way to Etihad, had to park his ute and take a tram in. In addition to this, he delivers when he crosses the white line.
We got the 'dancing in the pub' style incident or worse once a year with Col (most likely during the season and before a game at times). He also never knew when the offseason started and the season proper began as he never got out of second gear.

[chookrat 4,268]

I think you have provided the argument against yourself here.

I don't think so ManDee - a better environment for developing players would not have put up with poor behavior from Col, e.g. Ross Lyon's point that

Freo won't bend to Col, Col will bend to Freo implies that the MFC bent to Col. We failed to provide an environment that allowed us to get the most out of Col and Col failed to develop these areas of his game. It is damning on both MFC's past development and Col that he does not meet the minimum standards to get a game with Freo.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,088]

It took Rivers a year to get himself up to speed at Geelong too. Our players just aren't good enough to slot straight into a more professional outfit. Let's see what happens next year when he's had more time in their system.

[Go the Biff 3,440]

It took Rivers a year to get himself up to speed at Geelong too. Our players just aren't good enough to slot straight into a more professional outfit. Let's see what happens next year when he's had more time in their system.

Rivers was injured for most of his first year at Geelong

[ILLDieADemon 804]

glad his not our problem any more

[ManDee 7,222]

I don't think so ManDee - a better environment for developing players would not have put up with poor behavior from Col, e.g. Ross Lyon's point that

Freo won't bend to Col, Col will bend to Freo implies that the MFC bent to Col. We failed to provide an environment that allowed us to get the most out of Col and Col failed to develop these areas of his game. It is damning on both MFC's past development and Col that he does not meet the minimum standards to get a game with Freo.

So in our toxic environment we develop Nathan Jones but not Col Sylvia. What is the difference.

Nathan Jones takes responsibility for his actions and does whatever it takes to get better.

Col Sylvia is lazy. Even Ross Lyon and Freo cannot get him off his backside.

[McQueen 17,867]

I don't know what Ross Lyon was thinking. Freo's work rate and attack on the footy is first class, a level Sylvia has never played at before in his entire AFL career yet he still takes him as a free agent.

Freo might fair better with Frawley if he ends up there after spending a year under Roos but I won't hold my breath.

[TGR 1,367]

It took Rivers a year to get himself up to speed at Geelong too. Our players just aren't good enough to slot straight into a more professional outfit. Let's see what happens next year when he's had more time in their system.

Rivers was always good; albeit hampered by knee issues over the journey.

Frawley was always overrated.

Geelong won't turn Frawley into Rivers. No chance.

[The Chazz 4,077]

A different angle to look at it from is that one of our former, most talented (albeit inconsistent) players struggles to have an impact in a competition that is two or three tiers lower than the big league. Add to this our former number 4 pick who can only get a handful of votes in the same league.

There's more blokes on our list that the above two were better than than not. Sylvia in particular would most likely have been in our best 22 this year, don't kid yourself believing he wouldn't have been.

Any wonder we are so far below industry standard.

[Redjacket 756]

We need to take our wins (and associated gloating) where we can get them.

Vince for Sylvia was one that we knocked out of the park.

Imagine what a star Bernie would be at a decent club.