Dear Dean Bailey...

[The Zebra]

Hi Dees, sorry to interrupt, but...

If ever there was a player who would kill it as a backman, it is Colin Sylvia.


Put him in the back pocket.

If Leigh Matthews was your coach, it would already be done.

Good forwards, make great backmen.
He would kill it.


Otherwise give him to us.

 

[RandB]

He has played down back a few times this year and was quite good - more a half back flank than pocket. The coach I guess wants him to bring that sort of great tackling and pressure game further down the ground where we have also needed it. Unfortunately he has been a bit hot and cold but he can still improve.

 

[ausde13]

aaahh I would disagree, he plays to loose for a backman. He has a mid's personality with a body that lets him play bursts with stints up forward

 

[cannons]

Sylvia is interesting in this regard. He really has the ability to play anywhere, but I'm not sure he has the defensive work ethic to play at the back, although his chasing was vastly better yesterday than the week before.

Eventually, I would like to see him in the midfield, he has all the ability, and with an uninterrupted preseason, he may be able to develop the fitness base to spend more time up there. I can see him playing like Scott Thompson does for Adelaside now later on, and he has a bit of Riccuito about him too. He has a real explosiveness that not too many players are fortunate enough to possess. I just hope he becomes the player we know he can. Yesterday was a step in the right direction in any case.

 

[Supermercado]

Hi Dees, sorry to interrupt, but...

If ever there was a player who would kill it as a backman, it is Colin Sylvia.


Put him in the back pocket.

If Leigh Matthews was your coach, it would already be done.

Good forwards, make great backmen.
He would kill it.


Otherwise give him to us.

Have you actually watched us play this season?

 

[StingaArmstrong]

Sylvia is interesting in this regard. He really has the ability to play anywhere, but I'm not sure he has the defensive work ethic to play at the back, although his chasing was vastly better yesterday than the week before.

Perhaps putting him back there might teach him, or force him to get that defensive mentality and work ethic?

I've been calling for this move for over a year now, i think he's an AA half back waiting to happen...big call i know, but he's got all the tools to do it.
Good tackler, good mark, reads the play well, good skills, bursts of speed, usually composed (yes i know he stuffed up yesterday). he can also be very creative, using his skills through the middle would be a massive benefit to our side.

Perhaps this move could be in conjunction with Bell going forward, might give him some confidence if he kicked a couple of goals...4/5 rounds to go, not much to lose by trying it

 

[cannons]

Perhaps putting him back there might teach him, or force him to get that defensive mentality and work ethic?

I've been calling for this move for over a year now, i think he's an AA half back waiting to happen...big call i know, but he's got all the tools to do it.
Good tackler, good mark, reads the play well, good skills, bursts of speed, usually composed (yes i know he stuffed up yesterday). he can also be very creative, using his skills through the middle would be a massive benefit to our side.

Perhaps this move could be in conjunction with Bell going forward, might give him some confidence if he kicked a couple of goals...4/5 rounds to go, not much to lose by trying it

Yeah, when you say he can be an AA HB, I totally agree. I think he can achieve that in any position if he can get the most out of himself.

EDIT: I just realised I ignored your first point, which is also a valid one. Perhaps in defense where the results of a lack of accountability/defensive effort are more pronounced it would teach him to take some more responsibility in that part of the game, especially as he seems like a very competitive type. He was improved in that area yesterday though in fairness to him.

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

He's not accountable enough, end of story.

He certainly has the skill to play anywhere on the ground, but he too often has brain-fades or gives up, which you can't afford a defender to do. Defenders need to have a resolve to never give up, forwards are allowed to be a bit unaccountable as long as they still kick and create goals. I don't think it's the sort of thing you learn, it's more a mental drive. Maybe Sylvia could prove me wrong, but i wouldn't think so.

You guys who say he could be an AA defender, i think Sylvia has the talent to be AA in almost any position the ground, everyone can see his talent, it's his application that he's not getting right often enough. Sylvia seems like a confidence player, so if he was getting beaten as a defender he might drop his head

Someone mentioned Scott Thompson, I tend to think Ryan O'Keefe is the player he should be watching, Thompson is a midfielder first, O'Keefe is a forward first. Sylvia plays similar to him now, medium sized lead-up target. If he could be anything like O'Keefe he'll be doing alright

 

[chopper41]

Sylvia's problem isn't talent, he's just lazy. He plays unaccountable football and rarely gives 100%. That isn't backman material IMO.

 

[w00dy]

he's showed something when he's played there in the past... it wouldn't hurt to try...

however we really need him as a target down forward, as we don't have much else down there at the moment...

looking forward to when he has the fitness to play in the middle...

 

[bloodpumpsRnB]

Sylvia's problem isn't talent, he's just lazy. He plays unaccountable football and rarely gives 100%. That isn't backman material IMO.

That's the very reason why we would put him in the backline. He needs to be accountable or he'll concede a goal.

 

[chopper41]

That's the very reason why we would put him in the backline. He needs to be accountable or he'll concede a goal.

That's the problem though. He wouldn't care if he conceded a goal. He's selfish and that ain't gonna change.