Colin Sylvia

Colin Sylvia
Personal information
Full nameColin Sylvia
Date of birth8 November 1985
Original teamBendigo Pioneers (TAC Cup)
Draft#3 (PP), 2003 National Draft
Melbourne
Height/Weight186cm / 85kg
Position(s)Midfielder
Club information
Current clubFremantle
Number4
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2004–2013
2014-2015
Total		Melbourne
Fremantle		157 (129)
6 (1)
163 (130)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of Round 13, 2014 season.
Career highlights

Colin Sylvia (born 8 November 1985) is a retired Australian rules footballer, having played for the Melbourne and Fremantle Football Clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Sylvia grew up in Merbein, Victoria, a town near the rural city of Mildura where he played his junior football with the local club. At just 15 years of age, Sylvia made his debut for the Merbein seniors in the Sunraysia Football League and was a member of Merbein's 2002 premiership side.[1]

As an 18 year old, Sylvia moved to Bendigo to advance his junior football and chances of being drafted into the AFL.

AFL career

Sylvia was taken with the third selection in the 2003 AFL Draft by the Melbourne Demons, but was held back in his debut season due to a groin injury. He managed just three senior games for the year. The 2005 season saw Sylvia play 16 senior games and earn a Rising Star nomination. His season was cut short due to a shoulder dislocation while playing for the Demons' VFL affiliate, the Sandringham Zebras.

Sylvia entered the 2006 season coming off solid form in the pre-season, and was regarded as one of the most talented young players in the league. However, the Demons selected him sporadically in the senior side, appearing to be unsure as to what position he should play.

In Round 14 2008 Sylvia kicked a career best four goals in Melbourne's thrilling one point win over the Brisbane Lions.

In 2009, Sylvia had his best year at the club averaging 22 disposals and kicking 17 goals. In Round 9, against Hawthorn, he had a career-high 37 disposals and four goals, kicking three goals in a row during the third quarter. He was awarded three Brownlow Medal votes for his effort. At the end of the year Sylvia signed a two year contract to remain with Melbourne.[2]

Sylvia's 2010 season was marred by injury, causing him to miss seven games. However, he was regularly one of Melbourne's best players in the 15 matches that he did play and he ended the season finishing fifth in the Best and Fairest.[3] He was also Melbourne's equal leading vote-getter, with Aaron Davey, at the 2010 Brownlow Medal.[4]

At the end of the 2013 season, Sylvia signed as an unrestricted free agent with Fremantle Football Club. He finished fifth in Melbourne's best and fairest award for the season.[5]

After being relegated to the WAFL prior to the commencement of the 2015 AFL season for failing to meet fitness standards, Sylvia announced his retirement from the game, effective immediately, on 28 April 2015.[6]

Personal life

Sylvia has courted controversy with his off-field behaviour. He was accused of violence towards his girlfriend in 2006.[7] In March 2008 he received a one-match ban and a $5000 fine after breaking a 1am curfew and failing to turn up to a compulsory recovery session. Almost exactly a year later on 8 March 2009, Sylvia "breached team expectations by being out late on Sunday evening" and was suspended by the club's leadership group five days later for the NAB Challenge match against the Western Bulldogs.

In 2009, Sylvia talked openly about his off-field problems and behaviour and how he nearly gave up on football because of injury.[8]

On 23 October 2011, police spoke with Sylvia after he left the scene of a serious accident in South Melbourne in the early hours of that morning. It is believed Sylvia was not the driver of the vehicle.[9]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2014 season [10]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team # Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2004 Melbourne 12 3 1 0 6 4 10 2 5 0.3 0.0 2.0 1.3 3.3 0.7 1.7
2005 Melbourne 12 16 8 5 129 52 181 64 25 0.5 0.3 8.1 3.2 11.3 4.0 1.6
2006 Melbourne 12 17 10 6 142 66 208 68 53 0.6 0.4 8.4 3.9 12.2 4.0 3.1
2007 Melbourne 12 16 12 7 136 73 209 68 47 0.8 0.4 8.5 4.6 13.1 4.2 2.9
2008 Melbourne 12 18 16 9 197 123 320 119 50 0.9 0.5 10.9 6.8 17.8 6.6 2.8
2009 Melbourne 12 17 17 10 209 170 379 115 53 1.0 0.6 12.3 10.0 22.3 6.8 3.1
2010 Melbourne 12 15 16 7 213 122 335 82 61 1.1 0.5 14.2 8.1 22.3 5.5 4.1
2011 Melbourne 12 19 25 10 215 165 380 74 101 1.3 0.5 11.3 8.7 20.0 3.9 5.3
2012 Melbourne 12 17 15 6 170 135 305 59 64 0.9 0.4 10.0 7.9 17.9 3.5 3.8
2013 Melbourne 12 19 9 11 212 157 369 75 85 0.5 0.6 11.2 8.3 19.4 4.0 4.5
2014 Fremantle 4 6 1 3 22 34 56 10 13 0.2 0.5 3.7 5.7 9.3 1.7 2.2
Career 163 130 74 1651 1101 2752 736 557 0.8 0.5 10.1 6.8 16.9 4.5 3.4

References

  1. ↑ (26 September 2009) "Demons re-sign Sylvia". Sunraysia Daily. Retrieved 14 August 2010
  2. ↑ (24 September 2009) "Sylvia, Wonaeamirri commit to Demons". The Age. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  3. ↑ Clark, Jay (3 September 2010). "Brad Green wins Keith "Bluey" Truscott gong". Herald Sun. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  4. ↑ Burgan, Matt. "MFC Brownlow Medal totals". Melbourne FC. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  5. ↑ Ralph, Jon (4 October 2013). "Melbourne underachiever Colin Sylvia set to sign with Fremantle". Herald Sun.
  6. ↑ "Colin Sylvia to retire". Fremantle Football Club. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Butcher, Steven (3 February 2006) "AFL star gets court order on girlfriend". The Age. Retrieved 1 June 2006.
  8. ↑ Quayle, Emma. (7 June 2009) "Taming the demon". The Age. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  9. ↑ Butler, Mark and Ralph, John. (23 October 2011) "Melbourne footy star Colin Sylvia questioned over South Melbourne crash". The Age. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  10. ↑ Colin Sylvia's player profile at AFL Tables

External links