Colin Sylvia and the Sandover Medal

[nutbean 8,838]

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 agree with this 100%.

I have always thought Sylvia had talent but not the application (I know we disagree on this one Rjay !)

I also don't think the last line is arguing against the rest of the post - I wish all footballers had the mental application and intestinal fortitude of Nathan Jones ( I believe no matter what environment you put chunk into he would thrive) - alas they don't. Shout me down Rjay but on raw talent I have Sylvia ahead of Jones. As all round footballers - they are not in the same universe.

To me it is not just a matter of poor recruiting that has resulted in almost every draft pick we have had has either been poor or at best serviceable. We have not had a culture that demands success or that nurtures or develops talent - we have not had mature A grade footballers to usher in the youngsters. Even during the Daniher years we celebrated making 8th spot - that meant we were slightly better than half of the teams in the competition - nothing more.

Sylvia to me is a prime example of a player with talent coming into our cesspool where our culture demanded absolutely nothing and that's pretty much what we got.

[rjay 25,307]

I agree with this 100%.

I have always thought Sylvia had talent but not the application (I know we disagree on this one Rjay !)

I also don't think the last line is arguing against the rest of the post - I wish all footballers had the mental application and intestinal fortitude of Nathan Jones ( I believe no matter what environment you put chunk into he would thrive) - alas they don't. Shout me down Rjay but on raw talent I have Sylvia ahead of Jones. As all round footballers - they are not in the same universe.

To me it is not just a matter of poor recruiting that has resulted in almost every draft pick we have had has either been poor or at best serviceable. We have not had a culture that demands success or that nurtures or develops talent - we have not had mature A grade footballers to usher in the youngsters. Even during the Daniher years we celebrated making 8th spot - that meant we were slightly better than half of the teams in the competition - nothing more.

Sylvia to me is a prime example of a player with talent coming into our cesspool where our culture demanded absolutely nothing and that's pretty much what we got.

He really doesn't have the talent, he's a very limited footballer and the only expert to really pick up on it has been Leigh Mathews. I suspect Roos has as well.

He can only deal with what's in front of him and needs to see the ball or the player he's distributing to in that way. To be a real star of the game you need awareness of what is around you. I always reckon that Kosi suffered from the same issue and that the 2 of them were judged on physical characteristics and basic skills like being long kicks and not required football characteristics and therefore unfairly judged.

[Bendigo Demon 115]

Every year, there are 100's of kids who have the talent to play AFL football. Honestly, every kid drafted has the talent. What sorts the wheat from the chaff is the mental application to live, train, perform, and rehabilitate like AFL footballers. It is obvious that Colin Sylvia has truckloads of talent, but the brains of a pea, and this is why he is failing. It hasn't helped him that he went to a club who have had a shocking record of developing young players.

BUT, there are loads of examples of people who went to clubs with poor cultures and succeeded. The fault lies with Sylvia and no-one else. I'm glad he's gone. Ron Barassi once said that "Talent means nothing, your father gives it to you through the eye of his d*%k!!"

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

Sylvia to me is a prime example of a player with talent

That never delivered on it because he only played well when he wanted to. When the ball was in his court, to mix my metaphors and sports. And talent... yeah... well... sorta...but he came from a really bad draft. In a decent one he was #15+ and there are plenty of busts at that range. He was serviceable but never the gun we hoped for, and considering who else was around to pick from I think we did pretty well.

Get #3 and #5 a year later and we're a whole different team.

[dee-tox 4,835]

Whichvever way it turns out, in 2009 Sylvia still played the best individual game against Hawthorn I've seen for 10 years when he had 37 touches and booted four or five.Three Brownlow votes as well.

Original poster should let sleeping dogs lie.

[chook fowler 19,694]

Whichvever way it turns out, in 2009 Sylvia still played the best individual game against Hawthorn I've seen for 10 years when he had 37 touches and booted four or five.Three Brownlow votes as well.

Original poster should let sleeping dogs lie.

It's a long time between drinks

[chookrat 4,268]

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.

Yes but I think N Jones is the exception and is the sort of guy that would do well at any club. Based on our poor record in developing kids (accepting that we also made some poor choices re picks) I think the club equally has not provided the right sort of environment to develop players like Silvia, e.g. Shine early based on their talent but need to develop application and discipline to keep improving.

Will be interesting to see if Silvia plays another game for Freo next year...

[chookrat 4,268]

I agree with this 100%.

I have always thought Sylvia had talent but not the application (I know we disagree on this one Rjay !)

I also don't think the last line is arguing against the rest of the post - I wish all footballers had the mental application and intestinal fortitude of Nathan Jones ( I believe no matter what environment you put chunk into he would thrive) - alas they don't. Shout me down Rjay but on raw talent I have Sylvia ahead of Jones. As all round footballers - they are not in the same universe.

To me it is not just a matter of poor recruiting that has resulted in almost every draft pick we have had has either been poor or at best serviceable. We have not had a culture that demands success or that nurtures or develops talent - we have not had mature A grade footballers to usher in the youngsters. Even during the Daniher years we celebrated making 8th spot - that meant we were slightly better than half of the teams in the competition - nothing more.

Sylvia to me is a prime example of a player with talent coming into our cesspool where our culture demanded absolutely nothing and that's pretty much what we got.

Thanks, it is also an indictment on our development that a coach like Ross Lyon on contracting Col highlighted that he can see Col as a player to help improve the 1-2 goal gap they need to bridge to win a flag and that he backs the Freo system to get the most out of Col.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

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...

Sad sh it Red. We are pathetic. If Col had stayed he would have played every game with us (barring injury). And would have been considered pivotal. We are so far off the pace it is laughable.

[Little Goffy 14,760]

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.

You have to remember that picking up Sylvia cost Freo nothing. Not a draft pick was ruffled.

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

Sylvia and Moloney the two disco boys often seen out straight after games in matching scoop neck tees celebrating another loss with a plethorora of rum and Coke No wonder they never made it

[McQueen 17,867]

You have to remember that picking up Sylvia cost Freo nothing. Not a draft pick was ruffled.

I'm fully aware of that. Does that now make it a sound investment?

[Qwerty30 196]

It cost you nothing so you haven't lost anything of note.

Rather immaterial in the scheme of things

[Sir Why You Little 37,319]

Who...?

[McQueen 17,867]

It cost you nothing so you haven't lost anything of note.

Rather immaterial in the scheme of things

Dockers recruited Sylvia to actually kick goals and contribute towards a flag tilt.

What's he done? SFA.

Is that immaterial to Lyon?

I wouldn't think so.

[spirit of norm smith 16,617]

Col Sylvia back to MFC in 2017 as a 31year old pick 76. Realises its his duty to get Dees into the finals !!!

[Go the Biff 3,457]

Col Sylvia back to MFC in 2017 as a 31year old pick 76. Realises its his duty to get Dees into the finals !!!

Hahaha. Will he bring Tom "Unfinished Business" Scully with him SoNS ?

[Demonsone 2,050]

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...

Spot on... Though players like him represent the bad state of drafting/developing which occurred in the past hence our present state.... A bit harsh on Toumpas only in his second year & injured this year... Give the kid a break....

[Tatu 416]

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...

one of the worst?? At the moment we are the worst team ive ever seen playing AFL...

I honestly don't understand the need to bully former players or current players... We can all see that most of our players aren't up to it or aren't fit enough... How is bagging the crap out of them, going to help? All it does is creates division and instability within the club... Whats happened to actually wanting our players to succeed? Change needs to start with us...

The joke is on us.... About two years ago, i remember people around here bagging the crap out of Port Adelaide... They where going through a rough patch back then, and most here were taking joy in and laughing about how crap they where... Jeez... We aren't just living in glasshouses, we are living in broken glasshouses, we as a supporter base, seriously need to wash away this elitist hobnob attitude we have and start delivering some positive support to our club and players...

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

one of the worst?? At the moment we are the worst team ive ever seen playing AFL...

why do people insist on such absurd negative hyperbole? 4 wins with 6 losses by 20 points or less. You know damn well we didn't need much more to go right to finish on 10 wins. Clark and Hogan would have been enough! That is pretty far from the worst team you've ever seen. For starters refer to us in 2013! or 2008/2009! FMD!

[angrydee 842]

why do people insist on such absurd negative hyperbole? 4 wins with 6 losses by 20 points or less. You know damn well we didn't need much more to go right to finish on 10 wins. Clark and Hogan would have been enough! That is pretty far from the worst team you've ever seen. For starters refer to us in 2013! or 2008/2009! FMD!

or 1981

[pitmaster 3,589]

Every year, there are 100's of kids who have the talent to play AFL football. Honestly, every kid drafted has the talent. What sorts the wheat from the chaff is the mental application to live, train, perform, and rehabilitate like AFL footballers. It is obvious that Colin Sylvia has truckloads of talent, but the brains of a pea, and this is why he is failing. It hasn't helped him that he went to a club who have had a shocking record of developing young players.

BUT, there are loads of examples of people who went to clubs with poor cultures and succeeded. The fault lies with Sylvia and no-one else. I'm glad he's gone. Ron Barassi once said that "Talent means nothing, your father gives it to you through the eye of his d*%k!!"

Talking of Barassi, he joined Melbourne when we stank.

A wooden spoon in his first year (OK, we HAD won a flag five years before, AND lost a grand final two years before that but he arrived when we were rotten) and that hardly held back his "development".

[pitmaster 3,589]

But back to the main point others of interest to us would be Paul Johnson (8 votes) and Jack Hannath (1 vote).

I don't know how many WAFL games Hannath had but he managed only three senior games. Perhaps not such a steal after all.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,286]

Col Sylvia back to MFC in 2017 as a 31year old pick 76. Realises its his duty to get Dees into the finals !!!

On a serious note, if Freo wanted him off their books I'd entertain the thought of trading him back if it cost us nothing. i.e - a good will trade of pick 86 for Sylvia.

.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

On a serious note, if Freo wanted him off their books I'd entertain the thought of trading him back if it cost us nothing. i.e - a good will trade of pick 86 for Sylvia.

.

Seriously, that's nuts. We're a way off a flag, so the older players we recruit are for maturity, commitment and as role models /mentors for younger players. Three strikes against Col, IMO.