Robbo: Colin Sylvia latest in a long line of Demons to be taken too soon
COLIN Sylvia’s death is the latest in a litany of tragedies to strike Melbourne Football Club. Mark Robinson writes of a man had his personal struggles, but was looked up to by a young Max Gawn and had turned his life around back home in Mildura.
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DEATH haunts the Melbourne Football Club.
The Demons and all the football community are mourning the loss of Colin Sylvia, a prodigiously talented yet unfulfilled footballer, but also a young man who lived life in the fast lane and, in end, died with hands on the wheel.
The litany of tragedy at Melbourne is beyond comprehension and understanding.
Troy Broadbridge died in December, 2004, in the Boxing Day tsunami. He was 24.
Sean Wight died in 2011 of cancer. He was 47.
Jim Stynes died in March, 2012 of cancer. He was 45.
Dean Bailey died in March, 2014 of cancer. He was 47.
Robbie Flower died in October, 2014 of cancer. He was 59.
Sylvia was 32.
SHATTERED: FAMILY’S HEARTBREAK OVER TRAGIC LOSS
TRIBUTES: EX-TEAMMATES IN SHOCK AT SYLVIA’S DEATH
ANDO: WE ONLY SAW GLIMPSES OF SYLVIA’S TALENT
LOOK BACK: ROBBO ON SYLVIA IN 2015
All those people left different legacies at Melbourne, some of which will be honoured forever. Yet there is commonality about all of them.
“It’s crazy.’’ Max Gawn said.
“They are gone too early.’’
Gawn was at Melbourne for four years with the explosive Sylvia, before the midfielder was traded to Fremantle.
“I looked up to him,’’ Gawn said.
“He was one of those people who got along with everyone at the club, a real infectious personality.’’
Like many, feeling so sad about the loss of Colin Sylvia. Packed many highs and lows into his short life, but always generous, keen to put a smile on the face of whoever was in his company. First to volunteer to visit a sick kid or an elderly Demon supporter. Rest easy Col. pic.twitter.com/NZjl8GXm2P
— Cameron Schwab (@CamSchwab) October 29, 2018
Former CEO Cameron Schwab tweeted: “Like many, feeling so sad about the loss of Colin Sylvia. Packed many highs and lows into his short life, but always generous, keen to put a smile on the face of whoever was in his company. First to volunteer to visit a sick kid or an elderly Demon supporter. Rest easy Col.’’
Unquestionably, life had been challenging for Sylvia through his sometimes breathtaking career and after he retired in 2015.
He appears to have been a bloke who had such love and affection for others and a cavalier, if not reckless attitude to himself.
He had several court appearances in recent years, but it is said he had turned his life around back in the familiarity of his home town Mildura.
Brother-in-law Toby Quirk-Meeks, who is the partner of Sylvia’s sister Kasey, said the former Demon and Docker was “kicking goals” since returning home last year.
“Obviously there was a couple of issues in Melbourne and you could always dip into each other’s past, but he moved home to escape the issues that he had,” Toby said.
“The hurtful thing of it all was he had really turned his life around.
“He had a new girlfriend, he had the job, he was kicking goals.
“We always thought it would be the best thing for him to come home to really turn it around.
“It’s an absolute shock … it’s rocked our family, it’s devastating to be honest with you.
“His mother and father over the course of the day, it just broke me to see them … they have to bury their son.”
Toby coaches the Meringur Football Club, where Sylvia signed for but did not play in the 2018 season because of injury and his issues in Melbourne.
“He did a pre-season with us, but he told guys, ‘I’ve got a few court cases coming up and the commitment won’t be there’ and Colin being the man he is, he’d tell you straight out.
“But the boys got to do a pre-season with him
“He spoke to them as a brand new group, 22 other boys he didn’t know, and he told them this is what’s happened, I’ve stuffed up and I’ve got the consequences.
“The sad thing is he had turned his life around.”
Toby was in Adelaide at the weekend on his footy trip and was told of the crash — but not who was involved — on the way home.
He arrived at his house about 4pm on Sunday to find Kasey crying on the phone.
Minutes later the police knocked on the door.
Sylvia is the uncle of Kasey and Toby’s three boys under four years of age who he had just late last week enjoyed a kick of the footy in the backyard with.
“The two oldest just absolutely adore him,” Toby said.
“He was like a big kid and my boys absolutely loved him.
“I don’t know how I’m going to tell them. I haven’t told them yet. I’ll have to sit them down and explain the best way I can to a four-year-old.”
Several former teammates have spoken of Sylvia’s devotion to their families, led by Brad Green and Nathan Jones.
“He’s got the biggest heart,” Toby said.
“He’s a lad’s lad, one of the boys, but then he also had the biggest heart and he’d do anything for you.”
Toby said Sylvia should be remembered as a footballer and life member of the Demons.
“He’s seen so many coaches in his lifetime and to still play more than 150 games for the footy club is a fair achievement.“
Yes, Sylvia had his faults, but gee whiz he could play the game when it suited him.
He played 157 games for the Demons and six for Fremantle.
One of his best came in 2010 after missing most of the preseason and the first three games of the season.
In Round 4, he had 20 disposals and kicked five goals against Richmond.
“I remember the game,” Gawn said.
“I saw the article today about comparing him to Dusty … he was like Dusty and Dangerfield when they were half-forward kicking goals and taking marks.”
He was loved by Melbourne fans for his brilliance — and his brilliance can never be denied — yet he also frustrated them with his lack of consistency.
And, yes, it’s probably true he never harnessed that gift he was given to play the game.
Tragically, the sadness at the loss of his life raw and real for his family, his mates and his fans.
And the Melbourne Football Club mourns again.
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