You are kidding aren't you? As Club President he would get access to AFL information an arms length journalist not involved in an AFL role would cry for.

Really? So Jimmy would know which Collingwood players have signed or declined GWS?

but apparently some on here think we are just purely hand wringing, tedious and hysterical and therefore should not be posting on this topic.

Only you are claiming that Iva.

And I think its a touch of hysteria to claim a "Press Conference" when a probing SEN reporter jumps Bailey on the Scully rumour. Bailey as expected says nothing.

hopefully he can see that there's more to football than just money, but I have a sick feeling that those kind of dollars will sway him.

as I've said all along, the challenge, premiership success, playing for mates, historical club at the MCG, it's all b-[censored]. All that anyone cares about is money and it trumps the rest every time. This is perfectly accepted in the AFL, epitomised by the incredible betrayal by both Judd and Ablett. Scully won't be any different and nobody will hold it against him, and it may well cost us flags. It will be in the name of league expansion so the AFL can get a few dollars more.

Really? So Jimmy would know which Collingwood players have signed or declined GWS?

Possibly. There may not be any info at all. But when there is something as "big" as Scully I think the AFL would be keeping close watch on developments and be aware behind the scenes where things are at?

Think about it. As Club Presidents they get access to AFL staff, information in the fulfillment of their functions that dont get made public or maybe sanitised for the media.

Only you are claiming that Iva.

And I think its a touch of hysteria to claim a "Press Conference" when a probing SEN reporter jumps Bailey on the Scully rumour. Bailey as expected says nothing.

yeah I agree Rhino, bloody KB announced it like Bailey had called for an official press conference, then it turned out to be nothing more than bailing Bailey up after a training session, I suspect in front of a Hancook Tyre's/Kyspersky pull up screen, loaded with quaestions about Scully.

Really? So Jimmy would know which Collingwood players have signed or declined GWS?

Far be it for me to agree with RR, but the difference between McGoo and Jimmy is that Eddie is first and foremost a journalist and media man. That is how he started out. His presidency only serves to broaden his network and connections within the AFL. in a lot of AFL related issues, he would hear the inside story before most. The way he plied his journalistic trade has got him to where he is today. A very influential man is Eddie.

That's not necessarily what's happening here. He might not have signed and might be weighing up his choices.

Signed or not the point is they are approaching and talking to a contracted player...previously this did not happen until the loop hole was exposed by GC...and it seems it remains...

yeah I agree Rhino, bloody KB announced it like Bailey had called for an official press conference, then it turned out to be nothing more than bailing Bailey up after a training session, I suspect in front of a Hancook Tyre's/Kyspersky pull up screen, loaded with quaestions about Scully.

No probs Beetle. I always take KB and SEN with a huge grain of salt. Thanks for having your radar up.

If anything was to be said about Scully(if anything does need to said at all) I cant see why it would not come from Schwab or Stynes,

Only you are claiming that Iva.

And I think its a touch of hysteria to claim a "Press Conference" when a probing SEN reporter jumps Bailey on the Scully rumour. Bailey as expected says nothing.

That is simply breathtaking.

Signed or not the point is they are approaching and talking to a contracted player...previously this did not happen

Really, Clubs never approached and spoke to a contracted player prior to GC and GWS. I dont think so.

That is simply breathtaking.

Then take a breath Iva and relax.

Funny the poster who did use "press conference" first agreed.

Oh here we go....Kevin Sheedy is about to come onto SEN with KB, watch the petrol get poured onto the fire now..

Signed or not the point is they are approaching and talking to a contracted player...previously this did not happen until the loop hole was exposed by GC...and it seems it remains...

My understanding is that it was to remain (the window to approach). Wasn't it a week or two prior to Christmas ? I recall Sheedy saying he made no apologies - starting up a new license / club and were allowed to approach by the direction of the AFL; and the green light for Gubby Allen to fulfil his tasks in talking to many uncontracted players with aces up his sleeve.

At a guess, plenty of contacting would have been done even prior to that by GWS through player managers, etc.

I think this all started as a rumour and as TS has not signed has grown legs.

I do not think ( hope )he has signed.

That does not mean that he will stay at the Dees it just mean he wants to maximise his potential

by putting in a good 2011 and then do the best deal.

Unfortunately for Tom and The MFC the rumour has now made the position very difficult.

If his team makes no comment we all start to believe he has signed!

If he says no I have not signed it just means to the rumour mongers that he is going to at the end of the year

and so it goes on.

I cannot see a way out of it.

If Tom and his team continue on the current path we can expect this to go on for months.

The worst case for me would be to discover in August that he signed before 2011 got under way.

Fun days ahead!

There's no point getting all worked up over the situation because we're not going to have a resolution until towards the end of the season, why worry over something that we have no control over? Even if he stays the best thing his manager can do is to hold off for as long as possible to maximise his contract. Sure feel free to discuss it, but the suggestion of sending Scully direct letters is monumentally stupid.

Let's say the worst case scenario happens and he goes to GWS, that means he's probably already signed. What can we do? Yeah, I'll be upset and have a cry in my wheeties because he's going to be an absolute gun but the kid is entilted to live his life the way he wants to. It's his decision, no one else has the right to tell him what he has to do.

Just remember this, if he does go it's because of a once in a life time opportunity to earn serious money that will set him (and his own family) up for the rest of his life, but, and this is a huge but, we don't even know if he's received this huge offer. The figures being thrown about would put him in the top 5 earners in the league, remember he is still effectively a first year player. That's a massive risk and GWS will only be able to afford one player on this type of salary (using GCS as a template) because any more than that would take a huge chunk out of their salary cap. That salary would also put massive pressure on a young kid who is still developing, there'll be instant expectations on him to perform to justify his salary, however at Melbourne he'll be left alone to develop his game without those massive pressures. If he goes to GWS on a huge contract and doesn't perform instantly then he's in the [censored].

Melbourne has done the right thing by front ending contracts, this means we can get pretty close to what I believe GWS can realistically afford to offer ($600 to $800k even that is overpaying) per year, sure we would be paying overs (as previously stated in this thread, can't remember who) but I think he'll be worth it.

Once again why worry over something that we have no control over? Let the club handle the situation, I think they've done pretty well so far to earn the right.

Everytime the MFC has a press conference this question will be raised. This is a huge test for our club and how we handle this. The unfortunate thing is we had so much positive hype about our club even with such poor on field performances that this is a big negative going into 2011 even if the rumour is untrue. Until Scully either signs with the MFC or leaves the club we are going to have this dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over the club.

Funny how it was mentioned this rumour was started by a North Melbourne person and has gained legs from there. This is one reason I think it is rubbish, North are that [censored] off that the MFC has this great hype based around our potential and the young kids we have. They believe the same hype should be around their club but for some reason their Administration can not create this, the media is not interested in pumping them up, there list is good but no one cares, this is evedent in current Memberships and last years attendance.

Really, Clubs never approached and spoke to a contracted player prior to GC and GWS. I dont think so.

Chris Judd comes to mind...sure it happened but when the rules prohibited it it wasnt the free for all it is now...it seems nothing was learnt from the Ablett situation last year and the unwieldy distraction bit became...then again I suppose the AFL may have been happy with the outcome hence why no action was taken...

Here's a scenario for you. It's confirmed that Scully has signed during the season.

R Barassi jumps the fence after a game and rips the number 31 guernsey off Scully's back and gives him the death stare. Gold!

If im not mistaken Scully's number sake Barassi left Melbourne for more money also. Wouldnt that be ironic. Maybe we should have given Scully number 11.

If im not mistaken Scully's number sake Barassi left Melbourne for more money also. Wouldnt that be ironic. Maybe we should have given Scully number 11.

good call

If im not mistaken Scully's number sake Barassi left Melbourne for more money also. Wouldnt that be ironic. Maybe we should have given Scully number 11.

That's a bit harsh, and my understanding completely wrong.

I'm let to believe that Barassi left Melbourne because felt he had achieved everything and wanted a new challenge and this is supported by the decisions he made throughout his entire career.

Perhaps I;m biased because I've had the odd beer with the great man but I'm pretty sure it wasn't money related

Far be it for me to agree with RR, but the difference between McGoo and Jimmy is that Eddie is first and foremost a journalist and media man. That is how he started out. His presidency only serves to broaden his network and connections within the AFL. in a lot of AFL related issues, he would hear the inside story before most. The way he plied his journalistic trade has got him to where he is today. A very influential man is Eddie.

A couple of things:

1/ Eddie is a gossip journo. His scoops are usually the end result of Chinese whispers and often have little resemblance to reality.

2/ He has a vested interest in deflecting attention away from Collingwood and their unsigned players. I'm sure he doesn't want to spend the next couple of months fielding questions about the state of contract negotiations with Pendles/Swan/Daisy.

3/ He wants it to be true. Every dollar spent on non-Collingwood players is a dollar less they can use to lure his boys.

4/ Why would GWS want this to leak? That's the really big question. They don't want other teams to know how much they have left in their war kitty and who they can now realistically target. If I was the GWS press officer I would (assuming the Scully rumour is false) be fanning the fires so we could chase other players under the radar.

Maybe Tom has signed. Maybe he really does want to concentrate on footy this year. Maybe he hasn't made up his mind yet what to do. The thing is that we don't know what is going on and what the motives are of those spreading the rumours so I'm going to look at all of this stuff cynically until we know that pen has been put to paper either way.

Indeed Jarka. Good post.

edit: plus your subsequent post since.

3/ He wants it to be true. Every dollar spent on non-Collingwood players is a dollar less they can use to lure his boys.

^

This.

That's a bit harsh, and my understanding completely wrong.

I'm let to believe that Barassi left Melbourne because felt he had achieved everything and wanted a new challenge and this is supported by the decisions he made throughout his entire career.

Perhaps I;m biased because I've had the odd beer with the great man but I'm pretty sure it wasn't money related

Jarka I remember it clearly and there were a few reasons for his leaving.

Money was part of the reason, by todays standards the pay for a player was way under what coaches were paid ( believe it or not .

So don't believe he did not get a sizeable increase in salary by going to Carlton.

^

This.

Plus a grab for extra ratings in the breakfast wars.

Dean Bailey should look the kid straight in the eye and ask him what the truth is.

If he has already signed he should be told to pack his bags for GWS immediately.