I have been one Sylvia's biggest critics, but he seems to be showing some signs of improvement.

Or, is he just becoming a junk time specialist?

I think he is improving and by the end of this year he will be regarded as a good player.

A lot of footballers take 4 or 5 years to really become good players. I hope Dunn is in the 4 to 5 year category and starts to show a lot by the end of this year as well.

So we cannot expect to much from players like Garland and Frawley for a while.

Players who show a bit early such as Jones, McLean and even Morton are the exception rather than the rule.

We had a good run for a while with early developing players which helped us considerably a while ago, Rivers, Davey, Bruce, Green, Whelan, Wheatley.

Seriously - he could not help but improve. He has been an utter waste up until now - I really hope for improvement every week because there is not much hope elsewhere.

Colin has had a good year.

But nobody on here will give him his due credit, which is sad.

Hard to get worse when you've done nothing for 5 years.

He is running harder and has a bit more speed, that's good. He still has minimal to no impact on games, that's nothing new.

He is getting better, problem is he is still not at the level a top pick should be at this point in his career.

Injuries have played a big part in this. Col has shown us enough to be a best 22 sort. Another year of this should see him develop into one of our better players.

the last 4 weeks in the backline have helped his career out a bit which is a credit to dean bailey! i dont think he is much of a forward! more of a luke hodge type running half back player

keep up the good work col

Hard to get worse when you've done nothing for 5 years.

He is running harder and has a bit more speed, that's good. He still has minimal to no impact on games, that's nothing new.

Sylvia's worth keeping, he has everything needed to be a gun player, unfortanetly he knows it.. and isnt trying to step up to the top 2-3 at the club, which he is quite capable of doing.

Jones has half his talent but 5x his heart.

No, he is a front runner, will never be a great player! struggling at the moment to be a good player. If some people on here are saying he is having a good year, then that is testament to his career so far....

I would throw him on the trade table and see what we might get for him..

is he injured?

INJURIES

Brisbane: to be advised

Melbourne: Sylvia (shoulder)

he is doing a better job at winning the ball, which in part has been his move down back where it is a little easier....disposal is pretty ordinary though....definitely needs to get better

Sylvia will never be an A-Grader but hopefully in time he'll devleop into a solid contributor. I still think he's played his best footy in the middle and hopefully Bailey will give him plenty of opportunity to prove himself.

He's done well in the backline, but would like him to move into the midfield.

My expectations are buried in the sand when it comes to Colin but he has been impressive in the last couple of weeks.

check out how many pre-season's elite midfielders need before they reach the stage where they have the engine to perform in the midfield, then compare that to silvia who has had probably one full pre-season. he's progressing.

He still has minimal to no impact on games, that's nothing new.

Stupid comment.

He had more impact on the game today then everyone bar Jones.

Sylvia = T Johnstone - time to trade him while he still has some currency - maybe top 20 pick???

- maybe top 20 pick???

doubt it. we have nothing to gain by trading silvia at this stage, those who want him gone, fine, but don't expect currency in the market. we've put in 5 years, he's had one full pre-season and he looks much better. to me we have to give him at least 2 injury free years to prove his worth and i think he's on the right track.

sylvia still has the physical attributes.

he is great overhead, reasonable pace, strong/aggressive tackler, good long kick of the footy.

he has so far been wasted across the flanks. why not give him a go in the midfield. what's the worst that could happen? our midfield is deplorable as it is. maybe we'll find outselves a great midfielder. surely he wasn't drafted as a flanker

Sylvia = T Johnstone - time to trade him while he still has some currency - maybe top 20 pick???

Wow....that's genius!

Why aren't you heading up recruitment and list management at the club?

Sylvia has been decent this year. Not outstanding, but far from our worst performer. His move to the back half seems to have helped him find some confidence and the ball. His stats have been consistently good this last few weeks, and I think it may be starting to click for young Colin.

He deffinately needs more time. Why are people so desperate to get rid of someone so young? If we keep culling these young blokes we will continue to make rookie skill errors because that is all we will have in the team...rookies.

Sylvia will never be an A-Grader but hopefully in time he'll devleop into a solid contributor.

I agree with that. I think it's fairly apparent now that we did not get our superstar with our prized pick 3, however given the alternatives currently on offer with Sylvia, I would definitely settle for a "good ordinary player". Especially if you consider what was taken after him (and even before him) in the top 10 of that draft.

Yep, Sylvia is definately improving.

Unmistakable over the last few games. Good signs.

He exactly has not set the world on fire, but the last quarters of the last 3 games he has been prob top 3 for us on the ground, why he can't pay that well in the first 3 quarters of each game I do not know, I really hope the Kid starts to shine, he has the talent.

I think it's fairly apparent now that we did not get our superstar with our prized pick 3, however given the alternatives currently on offer with Sylvia, I would definitely settle for a "good ordinary player". Especially if you consider what was taken after him (and even before him) in the top 10 of that draft.

The dubious overall quality of the 2003 draft is often overlooked. In my mind the 2 best picks have been Cooney (#1) and Adcock (#32). McLean and Sylvia are not superstars. But they are unlikely to be duds either and certainly better of many of the other players who were taken in the Top 20 that year.

If Sylvia can continue to build on this base he has developed this year, maintains and improves fitness and can demonmstrate off the ground he is focussed and dedicated then we may have a player to include in the rebuilding process. A God knows that process looks more significant that what may have been likely in February.