Colin Sylvia
Encyclopedia
Colin Sylvia is an Australian rules football
er, currently playing with the Melbourne Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
, 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.
As an 18 year old, Sylvia moved to Bendigo to advance his junior football and chances of being drafted into the AFL.
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.
Heading into the finals, many Demon fans had been disappointed with Sylvia's progress throughout the 2006 regular season, although he has shown, in glimpses, that he can become a topline player in time, however the Demons have selected him sporadically in the senior side, appearing to be unsure as to what position he should play. His lack of height makes him unsuitable for a key position, though he is a strong overhead mark, yet he does not excel in the midfield. Sylvia has been used by the Demons at times in both defence and attack with mixed results.
In Round 14 2008
Sylvia kicked a career best four goals in Melbourne's thrilling one point win over the Brisbane Lions
.
However, Sylvia has courted controversy with his off-field behaviour, which resulted in a one-match ban and a $5000 in March 2008 after breaking a 1 am curfew and failing to turn up to a compulsory recovery session.
.
Sylvia would had 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 votes for his effort.
At the end of the year Sylvia signed a two year contract to remain with Melbourne.
. He was also Melbourne's equal leading vote-getter, with Aaron Davey
, at the 2010 Brownlow Medal
.
On 23 October 2011 police spoke with Colin 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.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, currently playing with the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Early life
Sylvia grew up in Merbein, VictoriaMerbein, Victoria
Merbein is a town outside Mildura, Victoria, in the Sunraysia region of Australia. At the 2006 census, Merbein had a population of 2526.The area was known as White Cliffs until 1909 when the township was established, the Post Office opening on 16 August 1909.The name was intended to be Merebin,...
, a town near the rural city of Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
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
Sunraysia Football League
The Sunraysia Football League is an Australian Rules league based in Northwestern Victoria with clubs located in the vicinity of Mildura and Wentworth, New South Wales...
and was a member of Merbein's 2002 premiership side.
As an 18 year old, Sylvia moved to Bendigo to advance his junior football and chances of being drafted into the AFL.
AFL career
The highly rated Sylvia was taken with the third selection in the 2003 AFL Draft2003 AFL Draft
The 2003 AFL Draft was the 2003 instance of the AFL Draft, the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
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
VFL
VFL can refer to:Sport* Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formerly known as the Victorian Football Association prior to 1996....
affiliate, the Sandringham Zebras
Sandringham Zebras
The Sandringham Football Club, nicknamed The Zebras, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne that was formed in 1929 and plays in the Victorian Football League . The Zebras have a 5 year alignment agreement with AFL club St Kilda Football Club of which the first season was 2009...
.
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.
Heading into the finals, many Demon fans had been disappointed with Sylvia's progress throughout the 2006 regular season, although he has shown, in glimpses, that he can become a topline player in time, however the Demons have selected him sporadically in the senior side, appearing to be unsure as to what position he should play. His lack of height makes him unsuitable for a key position, though he is a strong overhead mark, yet he does not excel in the midfield. Sylvia has been used by the Demons at times in both defence and attack with mixed results.
In Round 14 2008
2008 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:...
Sylvia kicked a career best four goals in Melbourne's thrilling one point win over the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
.
However, Sylvia has courted controversy with his off-field behaviour, which resulted in a one-match ban and a $5000 in March 2008 after breaking a 1 am curfew and failing to turn up to a compulsory recovery session.
2009
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 BulldogsWestern Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
.
Sylvia would had best year at the club averaging 22 disposals and kicking 17 goals. In Round 9, against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
, 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 votes for his effort.
At the end of the year Sylvia signed a two year contract to remain with Melbourne.
2010
Sylvia's 2010 season was marred by injury, causing him to miss seven games. However, Sylvia 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 FairestKeith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
The Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Melbourne Football Club player judged Best and Fairest for the season.It is named in honor of Keith 'Bluey' Truscott, a former dual premiership player and World War II fighter ace killed in 1943....
. He was also Melbourne's equal leading vote-getter, with Aaron Davey
Aaron Davey
Aaron Davey is a professional Australian rules football player of Indigenous Australian heritage. He currently plays for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
, at the 2010 Brownlow Medal
2010 Brownlow Medal
The Brownlow Medal is the most prestigious individual award in Australian rules football and was awarded in 2010 to Chris Judd from the Carlton Football Club for being voted as the fairest and best during the 2010 Australian Football League home and away season. The vote counting ceremony was held...
.
Personal life
Off-field, Sylvia faced scrutiny when he was accused of violence towards his girlfriend in 2006. In 2009 he talked openly about his off-field problems and behaviour and how he nearly gave up on football because of injury.On 23 October 2011 police spoke with Colin 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.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct as of Round 22, 2010 (September 2010)
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Goals | Behinds | Kicks | Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Disposals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 2004 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St... |
Melbourne | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 2005 2005 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2005.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:... |
Melbourne | 12 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 129 | 64 | 52 | 181 |
| 2006 2006 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final... |
Melbourne | 12 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 142 | 68 | 66 | 208 |
| 2007 2007 AFL season The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia... |
Melbourne | 12 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 136 | 68 | 73 | 209 |
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
Melbourne | 12 | 18 | 16 | 9 | 197 | 119 | 123 | 320 |
| 2009 2009 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:... |
Melbourne | 12 | 17 | 17 | 10 | 209 | 115 | 170 | 379 |
| 2010 2010 AFL season -Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22... |
Melbourne | 12 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 213 | 82 | 122 | 335 |
| Totals | 102 | 80 | 44 | 1032 | 518 | 610 | 1642 | ||