Full name Colin Sylvia Name Colin Sylvia Date joined 2004 Height/Weight 185cm / 89kg Height 1.86 m Original team Bendigo Pioneers | Position(s) Midfielder Weight 85 kg Nominations AFL Rising Star Years Club Career end April 28, 2015 | |
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Date of birth (1985-11-08) 8 November 1985 (age 30) Draft #3 (PP), 2003 National Draft
Melbourne Role Australian Rules Footballer | ||
Colin sylvia flies afl
Colin Sylvia (born 8 November 1985) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne and Fremantle Football Clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Contents
Sylvia in strife? - 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.
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.
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. He was also Melbourne's equal leading vote-getter, with Aaron Davey, at the 2010 Brownlow Medal.
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.
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.
Personal life
Sylvia has courted controversy with his off-field behaviour. He was accused of violence towards his girlfriend in 2006. 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 in 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.
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.