- Colin Sylvia
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Colin Sylvia 
Personal information Full name Colin Sylvia Date of birth 8 November 1985 Original team Bendigo Pioneers (TAC Cup) Draft #3 (PP), 2003 National Draft, Melbourne Height/Weight 186cm / 85kg Position(s) Midfielder Club information Current club Melbourne Number 12 Playing career1 Years Club Games (Goals) 2004– Melbourne 121 (105) 1 Playing statistics to end of 2011 season .Career highlights - 2005 AFL Rising Star nominee
Colin Sylvia (born 8 November 1985) is an Australian rules footballer, currently playing with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Contents
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
The highly rated 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.
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.
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 Bulldogs.
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.[2]
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 Fairest.[3] He was also Melbourne's equal leading vote-getter, with Aaron Davey, at the 2010 Brownlow Medal.[4]
Personal life
Off-field, Sylvia faced scrutiny when he was accused of violence towards his girlfriend in 2006.[5] In 2009 he talked openly about his off-field problems and behaviour and how he nearly gave up on football because of injury.[6] 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.[7]
Statistics
- Statistics are correct as of Round 22, 2010 (September 2010)[8]
Season Team No. Games Goals Behinds Kicks Marks Handballs Disposals 2004 Melbourne 12 3 1 0 6 2 4 10 2005 Melbourne 12 16 8 5 129 64 52 181 2006 Melbourne 12 17 10 6 142 68 66 208 2007 Melbourne 12 16 12 7 136 68 73 209 2008 Melbourne 12 18 16 9 197 119 123 320 2009 Melbourne 12 17 17 10 209 115 170 379 2010 Melbourne 12 15 16 7 213 82 122 335 Totals 102 80 44 1032 518 610 1642 References
- ^ (26 September 2009) "Demons re-sign Sylvia". Sunraysia Daily. Retrieved 14 August 2010
- ^ (24 September 2009) "Sylvia, Wonaeamirri commit to Demons". The Age. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ Clark, Jay (3 September 2010). "Brad Green wins Keith "Bluey" Truscott gong". Herald Sun. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/brad-green-wins-keith-bluey-truscott-gong/story-e6frf9jf-1225913539920. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ^ Burgan, Matt. "MFC Brownlow Medal totals". Melbourne FC. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/102800/default.aspx. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
- ^ Butcher, Steven (3 February 2006) "AFL star gets court order on girlfriend". The Age. Retrieved 1 June 2006.
- ^ Quayle, Emma. (7 June 2009) "Taming the demon". The Age. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ Butler, Mark and Ralph, John. (23 October 2011) "Melbourne footy star Colin Sylvia questioned over South Melbourne crash". The Age. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ^ BigPond, AFL (11 September 2010). "Player Profile - Colin Sylvia". http://www.melbournefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/colinsylvia/tabid/8357/playerid/14373/category/senior/season/2009/selected/bio/default.aspx.
External links
- Colin Sylvia's profile on the Official AFL Website of the Melbourne Football Club
- Colin Sylvia's statistics from AFL Tables
Melbourne Football Club – current squad 2 Jones · 3 Bartram · 4 Watts · 5 Gysberts · 6 Bate · 7 Bennell · 8 Frawley · 9 Trengove · 10 Morton · 12 Sylvia · 13 McKenzie · 14 Dunn · 15 Petterd · 16 Grimes · 18 Green (c) · 20 Garland · 22 Moloney · 24 Jurrah · 27 Rivers · 28 Macdonald · 34 Martin · 35 Tapscott · 36 Davey · 37 Gawn · 38 Howe · 39 Jetta · 40 Jamar · 42 Spencer · 44 Bail · 45 Lawrence* · 46 Blease · 47 Strauss · 48 Fitzpatrick · 49 Nicholson* · 50 Evans · tbd Clark
Coach: Neeld
* denotes Rookie Listed players
Categories:- Melbourne Football Club players
- 1985 births
- Living people
- Sandringham Football Club players
- Australian rules footballers from Victoria
- Bendigo Pioneers players
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