Melbourne underachiever Colin Sylvia set to sign with Fremantle
MELBOURNE will move on from the loss of Colin Sylvia, believing his chequered past is reflective of a consistent underachiever.
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MELBOURNE will quickly move on from the loss of Colin Sylvia, believing his chequered past and best-and-fairest record are reflective of a consistent underachiever.
Sylvia will accept a three-year deal from Fremantle as a free agent, adding another weapon to a talented forward line.
The Demons were aware he was likely to leave as soon as he decided he needed more time after a meeting with Paul Roos the day the Sydney premiership coach was appointed.
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But while Sylvia was fifth in this year's best and fairest, he has only two other fifth-placings in his ten years at Melbourne.
He also has an off-field track record that involves being involved in a bar scuffle in the days before this month’s best-and-fairest count.
Off-setting those negatives are his prodigious talent and the likelihood he will flourish under Ross Lyon after a recent visit of the club.
The Demons will likely receive a second-round pick for the former no.3 draft selection, who informed Melbourne of his decision yesterday morning.
“I will always consider myself a Melbourne person,’’ he said yesterday.
“I leave on good terms and clearly this was a tough decision, given the positive moves the club has made in recent times. But Fremantle are a good fit for me, based on where I’m at with my football career.”
Melbourne says the departure of Sylvia will open up salary cap space to pursue another midfielder, but it has now lost Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers and Sylvia as free agents.