After Sylvias triumphant returb today for Sandy, I got a ruch of excitement at how good this kid will be when he is up and running

I then remembered an article that Terry Wallace wrote during last years Finals entitled 'Sylvia lining'

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/com...5E19742,00.html

Here is an excerpt -

Young Nathan Jones is a beauty and will stand proud alongside McLean for a long time, but they need someone with the flair and class of a Daniel Kerr or Shaun Burgoyne beside them.

I believe the Demons already have the answer, but it is up to this boy to step up and answer the call. Colin Sylvia is a class act. He is playing as a part-time half-forward/midfielder. He has the presence and skills to take his game further and, as a high draft selection, this is exactly what Melbourne had expected from him.

If the Dees are to take a leap, so too must Sylvia. One player never holds the hopes and dreams of a club, as it takes all components to work in a given year. But I would guarantee that if Sylvia steps up, the Demons are a chance to last at least two weeks longer in September, and maybe even deliver that flag I dreamed of all those years ago.

Appreciate the optimism, but I would say it would be folly to expect the kid to have a huge impact this year. Obviously he has had huge injury problems and another heavily interrupted pre-season. We have to accept his development is well behind the often-compared McLean, and we can only hope that he can cure his injury worries, put in some solid pre-seasons and learn his trade as a top-level on-baller.

If he can achieve all this, you can see Wallace's vision, a combination of Sylvia, McLean and Jones, including the services of Bate, CJohnson and Bartram, while there are still some years left for Trapper, Bruce and Green, then the 2008/09/10 could see us with one of the best engine rooms.

Here's hoping.

As useful as his performance today was, it must be noted that the standard of today's game was nowhere near VFL standard, let alone AFL, and as such it is going to be very hard for Sylvia to 'break through' this season. That said, he was good and if he can build base fitness in the next month or two, he should make a very positive contribution, leading into what will hopefully be a cracking 2008.

Appreciate the optimism, but I would say it would be folly to expect the kid to have a huge impact this year. Obviously he has had huge injury problems and another heavily interrupted pre-season. We have to accept his development is well behind the often-compared McLean, and we can only hope that he can cure his injury worries, put in some solid pre-seasons and learn his trade as a top-level on-baller.

Sylvia's apprentiship is done & dusted and even with a limited pre-season was able to exert an influence on Sandringham's result today.

I don't have heightened expectations of Sylvia's output for the first half of this year. That said, he has demonstrated , particulary last season, that he is capable of playing at the highest level and having considerable impact. When, and if when, he is fit and on song, I have no doubt that he has a great opportunity this year to announce his arrival and stamp his mark as a rising and potentially elite AFL player.

Agree SS.

It's not about talent, it's all about fitness.

Sylvia's apprentiship is done & dusted and even with a limited pre-season was able to exert an influence on Sandringham's result today.

I don't have heightened expectations of Sylvia's output for the first half of this year. That said, he has demonstrated , particulary last season, that he is capable of playing at the highest level and having considerable impact. When, and if when, he is fit and on song, I have no doubt that he has a great opportunity this year to announce his arrival and stamp his mark as a rising and potentially elite AFL player.

OK. When exactly?

He is looking to have a career damned by O.P.

Same as last year, if he plays at the end of this year he will be frustratingly hamstrung, without showing all his wares because he has not been able to put in a Pre-season. It must do his head in...

I wouldnt be at all surprised if Ben Cousins plays more games this year.

FWIW I will be happy if Brent Moloney's season is not overshadowed by Osteitis Pubis.

I feel sorry for Colin and hope Im proved wrong.

always been a bigger sylvia fan than brock or jones bate ect.

hes a great talent. hes stood up in games before just not consistantly i remember a desperate melbourne side at the Gabba last year and sylvia was one of few who stood up. hope he can do it this year. 3 goals in one half if a great effort. bring back pickett and sylvia round 3-4 would be huge inclusions.