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Dockers' Colin Sylvia retires

Colin Sylvia in action for the Dockers. Picture: Getty Images

Colin Sylvia’s controversial stay at Fremantle has come to an end, with the 29-year-old today announcing his retirement.

Sylvia was recruited by the Dockers as a free agent ahead of the 2014 season on a three-year deal worth more than $1 million.

However the former Melbourne player failed to live up to the standards set by Dockers coach Ross Lyon, prompting the club to send him back to WAFL club Peel earlier this year after only six games for his new club.

He played six games with Fremantle last year to add to his 163 games for the Demons.

Dockers general manager of football operations Chris Bond said Sylvia’s decision to retire had been made after discussions with the club.

“Colin has been working through a number of issues, including whether he was able to achieve and sustain the physical requirements needed to train and play at the elite level,” Bond said.

“It is never an easy decision but after discussions between Colin, his management and the club, it was agreed that his long-term interests would be best served by retiring from the AFL.

“The club, Colin and his management agreed that he leave Fremantle immediately.”

In a statement released by the club, Sylvia said he was looking forward to life after football.

“I would like to thank the Fremantle Football Club for the opportunity I was given to continue my AFL career after leaving Melbourne,” he said.

“While I have really enjoyed my time here, things haven’t gone entirely to plan in a football sense and I look forward to focusing on the next phase of my life.”

He had been banished to WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder in February after Dockers management said he was not meeting the physical requirements and training standards for AFL football set by the club.

Bond said Sylvia would not be speaking publicly through the club itself.

He said there had been no definitive moment that had decided the retirement decision.

“It was really amicable between both (parties),” Bond said.

“We’ve had some pretty consistent conversations over the journey with Colin really. Even when he went back to Peel in February there was constant communication with him.

“The program was run by us throughout the course of the week, so there was high accountability with regards to that and Colin and myself kept in contact as well as some DOC coaches in regards to it.

“It really got to a time where I was regularly speaking to Colin and his management. It was brought up between both parties that it was probably the best way to go forward.”

Bond had been satisfied with the resolution reached on Sylvia’s final payout.

The midfielder was recruited at the end of the 2013 season as an unrestricted free agent on a three-year contract believed to be worth about $450,000 a year.