On Sunday, the ex-Melbourne and Fremantle player was involved in a fatal car accident near Mildura, Victoria.
Garry Lyons confirmed the news on SEN radio.
“Colin Sylvia has tragically been killed in a car accident near Mildura, just out of Mildura last night,” Lyon told listeners.
“Colin was taken really early in the draft, I think pick number three, was a really talented footballer at the Melbourne footy club.”
“Our condolences and sympathies are extended to Colin Sylvia and his family and friends.”
Sylvia's former teammates Brent Moloney and Sam Fisher were among those who paid tribute to the fallen star.
“I still can’t believe it. Words can’t describe how I’m feeling!!! We were always side by side no matter where we were,” Moloney shared on Instagram.
“My thoughts go out to his beautiful family, I’m gonna miss you brother x Gone to soon R.I.P Col xx.”
Fisher tweeted, "Absolutely saddened to hear the news about Colin Sylvia! Same draft so spend bit and pieces of time with him and always one of the nicest and come say hello! Thoughts are with family and all those close to him!"
The Herald Sun report it was “absolute carnage” and the other driver, who was taken to hospital is lucky to be alive.
One man who arrived at the scene shared, “It sounded like a truck hitting a wall. I was expecting a truck through a house it was that loud.”
“The tray of his ute was ripped off the back of it. There was mess everywhere. He was lucky to live I reckon.”
The 32-year-old came onto the professional scene in 2003, before gaining prominence after he was nominated for the Rising Star award in 2005.
His former Melbourne club described him as “an explosive player who can win games off his own boot”, before he retired in 2015.
Earlier this year the sports-star had been embroiled in a few dramas, with Sylvia pleading guilty to using a stolen credit card at a Melbourne brother.
“At the end of his football career, he got himself into a dark place,” his father Craig told the court.
“He was not in a good spot. Everything was getting worse.”
According to reporter Seb Costello, Sylvia had changed his ways, tweeting, "Colin Sylvia was taking a lot of positive steps lately. He was working with his Brother-in-Law in a mentoring role at Meringur Footy Club, near Mildura. I'm also told he'd started a new relationship & had a new job at an air-conditioning company. Our thoughts are with his family."
