COLIN Sylvia's AFL career is over after the Fremantle midfielder agreed with the club that he should depart immediately.

Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond fronted the media on Tuesday afternoon following the release of a club statement confirming Sylvia's retirement.

Sylvia was not in attendance.

Bond said the club and player had come to a mutual decision to part ways.

"It was really amicable between both," Bond said. "We've had some pretty constant conversations over the journey with Colin really. Even when he went back to Peel in February there was constant communication with him.

"It was really between both parties. No one really instigated it. There was regular discussions all along with his management, Colin and myself and obviously then discussing that with key people in the club as well."

Sylvia and Fremantle: A marriage made in hell

When it was later put to Bond on Melbourne radio station SEN that Sylvia hadn't delivered the work-rate required during his time at the club, the Freo official agreed. 

"That's fact. That's absolute fact. That's the reason Colin went down to Peel and he was aware of that and in discussions he was really honest with that as well," Bond said.

"From our point of view it wasn't at the level that was required and really, we needed Colin's actions to speak, and he wasn't able to do that."

Sylvia said in a club statement: "I would like to thank the Fremantle Football Club for the opportunity I was given to continue my AFL career after leaving Melbourne. 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."

Lyon tells of 'limited contact' with Sylvia

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said the main discussions on Sylvia's future had been handled by Bond and CEO Steve Rosich, but it was time for all parties to "move on".

"I couldn't tell you the absolute detail but in conversations with our football operations manager and CEO and his management they've come to a mutual decision," Lyon told Channel Seven on Tuesday night.

"Clearly when you come to a mutual decision, it's best for both parties and we all get to move on." 

At the press conference, Bond said Sylvia would not speak publicly via the club. He confirmed he had spoken with Sylvia on Tuesday.

Bond said he was uncertain of Sylvia's plans, other than to stress the midfielder would no longer be playing for Fremantle or Peel Thunder in the WAFL.

"I know that he'll be staying around for a while and then from all reports he'll be heading back to Melbourne," Bond said.

Sylvia had another year to run on a lucrative three-year deal. It is understood that the club has negotiated a partial payment to Sylvia in 2015 and no payments in 2016. It is understood, as per any other retirement, he will not be listed in 2016 and no payments will go towards the Dockers' salary cap.

"We've worked really closely with his management in being able to work through a settlement," Bond said.

"It's something that we have been able to do and it's something that has been really favourable to the club, and I think all parties have been really understanding of that and worked towards getting a really favourable outcome, which is good."

Bond said Sylvia had been "compliant" to the club's program when he was sent to Peel Thunder on February 5, but that the relationship between player and club simply did not work out.

"We've had history in doing this before. There's not a 'set and forget' mentality when Colin went down to Peel," Bond said. 

"He was certainly working hard and he was abiding by the program that was set in place. But like we said before, it hasn't worked. He's stepping away from AFL football and it's in his best interest, he thinks, for the next stage of his life."

Bond said he was very comfortable that the club had done its due diligence on Sylvia before recruiting him as free agent at the end of 2013.

"I'm really comfortable with all the work we've done in regards to Colin and our other recruits as well," Bond said.

"We're really comfortable that we knew what was coming through the door."