THE TOM SCULLY TO GWS THREAD

[RalphiusMaximus 6,012]

The only question we need to ask is "Tom have you signed with GWS?" if the answer is no then he plays. If the answer is anything else he doesn't play for US all season. We have to make a stand!! This is our only playing card. We must force the issue NOW,

How about we take him at his word, accept that there have been no deals signed and let him do what he does best?

[Bang Bang Bang 5,767]

I'm starting to think he might stay.

I don't know about you guys, but I thought the recent press release from Velocity Sports was very re-assuring. I mean, if he is staying or even undecided about his future, then they simply had to release a statement to put as all at ease. And they have... it said all the right things.

Doesn't quite warrant opening up the champagne, but still.

Really if Scully does go then he wouldn't be able to justify the move for anything other than pure greed. Ablett and Judd both appeared to move clubs based on the coin, but they were entirely different. Both had achieved all they could have at their respective clubs, Judd also wanted to move home and be closer to family, while Ablett probably liked the opportunity to play with his brother again. What excuse would Scully have? He would be moving further away from his family, he'd be playing for a soulless team that won't challenge for a long time, and he is leaving a good club that invested a #1 pick in him after one year. He'd be viewed as a pure mercenary and his career and rep wouldn't recover IMO.

Edited February 9, 2011 by Sylvia Saint

[old dee 23,503]

How about we take him at his word, accept that there have been no deals signed and let him do what he does best?

Do we have a choice RM?

I agree lets get on with enjoying his play.

[Only a flag will do 0]

we'd be forcing it alright. We'd be forcing one of the best prospects in the comp right out the door

If he states he's staying there's no issue. If the question remains all season how is that going to affect the team? We're supposedly building a premiership team. Why structure a team around someone who is going to leave. We might's well look for who can replace him now. Remember last yearout of the 10players who were highlighted as being targeted all of them went.

[old dee 23,503]

Wow. 29,659 views for a thread about a young kid being offered a big contract by another club. And the only reason given for Tom accepting the contract is the money. I just think he needs more reasons than that.

Scully told the recruiters at the draft camp in 2009 that he wants be the best footballer he can possibly be. Money alone will not achieve that goal. The job of the MFC is to convince Tom that his best chance of achieving his goal lies with the Dees.

By the way, is anyone interested in the rumour that Melbourne is after Malthouse for next year? I heard that one tonight on AW.

I don't believe it.

DB seems to be rock solid with everyone at the Dees.

You should never say never but even if we wanted to we could never

offer as much as Carlton.

They want him badly I would say.

[Jaded No More 67,772]

Really if Scully does go then he wouldn't be able to justify the move for anything other than pure greed. Ablett and Judd both appeared to move clubs based on the coin, but they were entirely different. Both had achieved all they could have at their respective clubs, Judd also wanted to move home and be closer to family, while Ablett probably liked the opportunity to play with his brother again. What excuse would Scully have? He would be moving further away from his family, he'd be playing for a soulless team that won't challenge for a long time, and he is leaving a good club that invested a #1 pick in him after one year. He'd be viewed as a pure mercenary and his career and rep wouldn't recover IMO.

Please, if a rival company offered me millions of dollars to move across, I'd be packing up my stuff and getting the hell out of my current job in a second. My "rep" wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

There isn't a single person here who could honestly say they'd turn down that sum of money. Of course we all work in very different environments to that of AFL players, where success is very much linked to every decision, but he's 19 years old, could set himself up for life before he turns 21 in a career that might only span 10 years (maybe less if injuries strike), and have a good chance of winning a flag with GWS between now and retirement (if we're talking 10+ seasons).

The only way he'd stay at Melbourne is if we could come up with a similarly lucrative deal (possibly through offers outside of footy), or if he's extremely dumb and naive and have terrible financial advisers.

Of course all of the above is reliant completely on the financial rumours being true, which they may well not be. GWS probably prefer to get a more established star to generate more immediate success and thus following. They can ill afford to linger at the bottom of the ladder for years on end waiting for their list to come of age, and Scully is certainly a few years off his peak.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,012]

If he states he's staying there's no issue. If the question remains all season how is that going to affect the team? We're supposedly building a premiership team. Why structure a team around someone who is going to leave. We might's well look for who can replace him now. Remember last yearout of the 10players who were highlighted as being targeted all of them went.

Are you including Frawley in that 10? He was a fairly prominent target. How about Petterd? Lots of talk about him leaving.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,767]

Please, if a rival company offered me millions of dollars to move across, I'd be packing up my stuff and getting the hell out of my current job in a second. My "rep" wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

There isn't a single person here who could honestly say they'd turn down that sum of money. Of course we all work in very different environments to that of AFL players, where success is very much linked to every decision, but he's 19 years old, could set himself up for life before he turns 21 in a career that might only span 10 years (maybe less if injuries strike), and have a good chance of winning a flag with GWS between now and retirement (if we're talking 10+ seasons).

The only way he'd stay at Melbourne is if we could come up with a similarly lucrative deal (possibly through offers outside of footy), or if he's extremely dumb and naive and have terrible financial advisers.

Of course all of the above is reliant completely on the financial rumours being true, which they may well not be. GWS probably prefer to get a more established star to generate more immediate success and thus following. They can ill afford to linger at the bottom of the ladder for years on end waiting for their list to come of age, and Scully is certainly a few years off his peak.

Well Dustin Martin was courted by the same clowns midway through last year - offered 800k a year if he moved but he stayed loyal and signed with Richmond for exactly half that amount. Why can't Scully do the same? It's not like we'd be paying him peanuts.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,012]

There isn't a single person here who could honestly say they'd turn down that sum of money.

What sum exactly? Nobody knows how much GWS is willing to offer him. I think it's very safe to say it isn't 6 million over 6 years. Eddie's claim of 3 mil in his first year is likewise idiotic (it came from Eddie, after all). What is this incredible sum of money that is going to prove irresistible? Try to be realistic here. They have priorities. They need to get a big name. They need to get some mature bodies in key positions. Worst case for us is Tom is fourth or so on their list after a marquee midfield general, a CHB and a FF. I would think that he would be much further down the list than that, as he is still a young untried player. They get plenty of them with their draft concessions. Add to that that they are already paying Issy, although for some reason the AFL is picking up a fair whack of his salary...

They simply don't have the millions that everyone is talking about.

[binman 42,010]

I have read this thread with a mixture of bewilderment and bemusement. So much piffle, so little time. Of course i could have simply not read it but like watching a F1 car crash or reading an Andrew Bolt opinion piece sometimes i just can't look away. Some of the posts have simply been absurd, bordering on hysterical, with only a few glimmers of logic sneaking through. The points around the GWS deliberately providing disinformation (and it being lapped up by a compliant media and fuelled by sites such as this) are well made. As are the recent ones about Scully's true worth to GWS. There is no way he is worth the sort of money being bandied about.

My thoughts on the matter are that as i said above Scully is not worth $1 million a year at this point in his career and that we should not allow ourselves to get into a bidding war (which of course is what his management will be hoping for). Don't get me wrong he is a terrific player and may become a champion but i stress may as he is not there yet and there are no guarantees he will become one. He could develop chronic injuries , he may not improve his kicking to an elite level, he might suffer from burnout (as by all accounts he has been training with a fanatical level of intensity since he has been about 12 yo) or simply may may not take the next step that will be required for him to become a champion. He is not a marquee player in the vain of say a Buddy Franklin who can sell the game in Sydney and i don't think he has the sort of x factor that is going to get the turnstiles spinning or merchandise selling like hot cakes. GWS will make their play but for that sort of coin?

So of course it would be terrible for us to lose him and it would, IMO make a mockery of the pain the club went through to secure a number 1 draft pick (and to an extent the draft system itself - a key fcomponent of the AFL model). The AFL should have ensured that this could not happen, however like for GWS this sort of media palaver is probabaly seen by them as a positive. However i believe if he were to go it won't be the end of the world and contrary to the views of some will not dash our flag winning hopes in the next 3-4 years. Thanks to the terrific recruiting over the last 5 years we have built a strong pool of mid fielders and whilst losing such an obvious talent would hurt we have depth there.

I for one would be much more concerned about losing Watts, Jurrah or even Frawley. We will not win a flag without some guns up forward and a rock solid backline.

[brendan 3,430]

I have read this thread with a mixture of bewilderment and bemusement. So much piffle, so little time. Of course i could have simply not read it but like watching a F1 car crash or reading an Andrew Bolt opinion piece sometimes i just can't look away. Some of the posts have simply been absurd, bordering on hysterical, with only a few glimmers of logic sneaking through. The points around the GWS deliberately providing disinformation (and it being lapped up by a compliant media and fuelled by sites such as this) are well made. As are the recent ones about Scully's true worth to GWS. There is no way he is worth the sort of money being bandied about.

My thoughts on the matter are that as i said above Scully is not worth $1 million a year at this point in his career and that we should not allow ourselves to get into a bidding war (which of course is what his management will be hoping for). Don't get me wrong he is a terrific player and may become a champion but i stress may as he is not there yet and there are no guarantees he will become one. He could develop chronic injuries , he may not improve his kicking to an elite level, he might suffer from burnout (as by all accounts he has been training with a fanatical level of intensity since he has been about 12 yo) or simply may may not take the next step that will be required for him to become a champion. He is not a marquee player in the vain of say a Buddy Franklin who can sell the game in Sydney and i don't think he has the sort of x factor that is going to get the turnstiles spinning or merchandise selling like hot cakes. GWS will make their play but for that sort of coin?

So of course it would be terrible for us to lose him and it would, IMO make a mockery of the pain the club went through to secure a number 1 draft pick (and to an extent the draft system itself - a key fcomponent of the AFL model). The AFL should have ensured that this could not happen, however like for GWS this sort of media palaver is probabaly seen by them as a positive. However i believe if he were to go it won't be the end of the world and contrary to the views of some will not dash our flag winning hopes in the next 3-4 years. Thanks to the terrific recruiting over the last 5 years we have built a strong pool of mid fielders and whilst losing such an obvious talent would hurt we have depth there.

I for one would be much more concerned about losing Watts, Jurrah or even Frawley. We will not win a flag without some guns up forward and a rock solid backline.

couldnt agree more if the gws are really wanting to spend this sort of money then they should chase someone like pendlebury still young and a premiership player and if the pies win again this year he might want to chase some more coin

[colin 0]

Been a long time reader on demonland and I thought I would add what i know about this situation. I know this sounds a little long winded but one of my good mates cousins is good mates with scully. I knew my friend had met scul a few times and after reading all this about him I asked him what he knew. He seemed to know abit about the situation so had obviously been talking to his cousin about it and said that scully has been offered $6mil over 6 years by the DEMONS and GWS offer is $3m in the first year, he wasnt sure what the pay for the other years was. He is not a dees supporter and seemed to think (not knowing scully at all) that from what he had heard that Scully is very much a home person and will stay in Melbourne in his opinion (not sure if that is my mates opinion or if it is scully's mates opinion). Anyway thats my take on it, it convinced me that he will stay and be the club champ that we all know he will be!

[45HG 1,539]

I agree that he won't go anywhere - but they're fanciful figures to say the least!

[dum dee dum 44]

I really agree with your sentiments BINMAN. I don't think he is worth that money and if he leaves I will be very interested in the compensation and who we get rather than agonising over someone who in essence is showing mercenary traits at an age when money really shouldn't be that important. Any young artist or sportsperson who at age 19 is more concerned about financial gain than becoming the best they can be in their chosen field is heading down the wrong path. I blame the "used car salesmen" attitude of player managers. I note some posters say his manager is doing a good job. I cannot agree! Money hungry sicophants and Tom will regret taking the money path I'm sure. We will all hate him. Why create enemies at such a young age. And he'll be going to a soulless club with no supporters run by a goose.

You'd be mad Tom, but I won't give a toss. I just want to barrack for players that want to play for my club.

This is what I'm going to hate this year. I don't know wether to barrack for Tom or not.

And I'd really like the club to do something about it because at the moment we are all being held to ransom!

[DeeSpencer 24,784]

Been a long time reader on demonland and I thought I would add what i know about this situation. I know this sounds a little long winded but one of my good mates cousins is good mates with scully. I knew my friend had met scul a few times and after reading all this about him I asked him what he knew. He seemed to know abit about the situation so had obviously been talking to his cousin about it and said that scully has been offered $6mil over 6 years by the DEMONS and GWS offer is $3m in the first year, he wasnt sure what the pay for the other years was. He is not a dees supporter and seemed to think (not knowing scully at all) that from what he had heard that Scully is very much a home person and will stay in Melbourne in his opinion (not sure if that is my mates opinion or if it is scully's mates opinion). Anyway thats my take on it, it convinced me that he will stay and be the club champ that we all know he will be!

That's a load of crap. The new CBA will increase wages but we will not be offering Scully 1 million a year even if that is what GWS do. It would make him a top 10 player in the league and by far our highest paid player. It simply wont happen. I doubt we will offer him 6 years either. Likewise 3 million a year is not a true figure. We have to remember we are talking about Tom Scully here, the guy is good and has potential to be a great midfielder but not a combination of Ablett/Judd/Franklin/Goddard in one, and even if he was it would be on potential anyway.

The most important thing I believe that we can do as supporters is to support the club in its operation and support Tom Scully. I don't think Scully has signed any deal yet and we should take his managers word for that at this stage. The more we support the club the better atmosphere it will be for Scully to play in and the more chance that he will sign a new contract with us. If he does leave we will have 10 years to taunt him and express our disgust so we should refrain from doing that at the time being.

[Goodvibes 3,596]

I'm trying to be positive about this situation. All of the obvious and current negativity will be turned on its head when Scully signs to remain a demon. The message he would send his team-mates, the supporters of this club and the broader footballing public would be huge. Bailey, Stynes, Schwab and Connolly have become increasingly positive about our future and bullish regarding our premiership credentials in the media of late and Tom's commitment would solidify the premiership focus of this young group and announce to our rivals that belief within the group is strong. If the deal GWS offers is considered by all and sundry as "too good for anyone to refuse", how impressive would it be for Scully to do exactly that and how much harder would it be for the next young demon star to walk away when contract discussion again rears its ugly head? Call me naive but as a new father, working fulltime as an experienced teacher and barely covering my mortgage repayments on a basic house that's a 60 minutes commute away from my workplace, the difference between 4 million and 6 million over the next 6 years seems a little irrelevant if I was close to the people I love. I think I could settle for just 4 million dollars.

Edited February 9, 2011 by Goodvibes

[colin 0]

Just what i heard mate, I dont believe he is worth $1m a year or that we should necessarily be paying him that much but not sure if its a "load of crap". $3m for his first year has been talked about on this forum so that is nothing new either. We will wait and see but I don't think he will be going anywhere.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,012]

Just what i heard mate, I dont believe he is worth $1m a year or that we should necessarily be paying him that much but not sure if its a "load of crap". $3m for his first year has been talked about on this forum so that is nothing new either. We will wait and see but I don't think he will be going anywhere.

Once again, do the math. They can't afford to pay him that if they want to chase other players. It's pure speculation from sensationalist media idiots who want to make more of a story. Yes, if they poached only one player, they could probably throw that sort of money at him for a year, but who would go there if they were going to be the one and only player with any experience at the club? It would be career suicide.

[OPETH 0]

It's just a way to boost membership. Expect an SMS tomorrow Aaron davey style, and watch the membership sky rocket!

[OPETH 0]

Wolfmother. I know your watching. We need a comment!

[colin 0]

I never said that $3m was a definite fact just what i had heard, probably similar all the here say on this thread. I agree with your points and believe he wont be going anywhere

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I really agree with your sentiments BINMAN. I don't think he is worth that money and if he leaves I will be very interested in the compensation and who we get rather than agonising over someone who in essence is showing mercenary traits at an age when money really shouldn't be that important. Any young artist or sportsperson who at age 19 is more concerned about financial gain than becoming the best they can be in their chosen field is heading down the wrong path. I blame the "used car salesmen" attitude of player managers. I note some posters say his manager is doing a good job. I cannot agree! Money hungry sicophants and Tom will regret taking the money path I'm sure. We will all hate him. Why create enemies at such a young age. And he'll be going to a soulless club with no supporters run by a goose.

You'd be mad Tom, but I won't give a toss. I just want to barrack for players that want to play for my club.

This is what I'm going to hate this year. I don't know wether to barrack for Tom or not.

And I'd really like the club to do something about it because at the moment we are all being held to ransom!

sorry mate but as E25 has just pointed out, none of that stuff matters. He can be a rich footballer or a very rich footballer that's all there is to it.

and the club has done something about it, I am sure the manager's press release was at the behest of the club after everyone went into meltdown today

[Bay Riffin 1,454]

I really agree with your sentiments BINMAN. I don't think he is worth that money and if he leaves I will be very interested in the compensation and who we get rather than agonising over someone who in essence is showing mercenary traits at an age when money really shouldn't be that important. Any young artist or sportsperson who at age 19 is more concerned about financial gain than becoming the best they can be in their chosen field is heading down the wrong path. I blame the "used car salesmen" attitude of player managers. I note some posters say his manager is doing a good job. I cannot agree! Money hungry sicophants and Tom will regret taking the money path I'm sure. We will all hate him. Why create enemies at such a young age. And he'll be going to a soulless club with no supporters run by a goose.

You'd be mad Tom, but I won't give a toss. I just want to barrack for players that want to play for my club.

This is what I'm going to hate this year. I don't know wether to barrack for Tom or not.

And I'd really like the club to do something about it because at the moment we are all being held to ransom!

Best post I have read in 15 pages !! Members here saying they would go to another job for a mill a year is not relevant. this could be the difference between 2-3 mill and 3-4 mill in a contract (and that is just equating money to the supposed $800,000 per year offered to Martin before he re-signed with Richmond). Would I move for that if I was playing for good football at my club? NO. Would I think about it ? yes. In the end his lifestyle will NOT change. it won't make any difference. I know if I stayed at the Dees with my family in Victoria I can make a lot of money and like Judd, the off-field dough sky rockets when you are back in the heartland of the AFL.

[fuchsia 37]

My thing is all this money being thrown at a young player. Its his second season and already a club is thowing around 6 mill at him. He isnt worth that money. Thats the problem these young players get hold of this money then end up with problems.

Tom is going to be asked about his contract all throughout the saeson and so will the club to the point they will get sick of it. It would be nice to hear Tom say this club is going somewhere and I want to be part of it.

On the other hand who wouldnt seriously consider this deal. If anyone of us got offered this sort of money by another business of course you will think about it. I can see why he may take it.

Tom please stay. You are our future and you will get rewarded with loyalty. Money isnt everything.

This all smacks of a ratbag collingwood "pres" .1-KEEPING THE WOLVES AT BAY AND TAKING THE HEAT OFF OF HIS OWN PLAYER " SWAN"

AND AT THE SAME TIME 2-GARNISHING "RATINGS" FOR HIS OWN SHOW..( QUOTE; RUBBING HIS HANDS ABOUT THE FIRST TO GET A STORY FOR THE FOOTY SHOW)

3-putting the irates and pressure onto an opposing club..

all he cares about is himself and his own..

when tables r turned he goes ferral ie; malthouse is going nowhere.&his we do things different at collingwood. speech.

Having said that,it is exactly the scenario-9 months of worry & stress by supporters.. as political lingo comments by his management & the club does not help things..

ie;( contracts on hold allowing tom to concentrate on his football ) give me a break; it does absolutely the opposite. !

knowing that most PLAYERS THESE DAYS ARE MERCENARIES..!! first and loyalty is of a bygone era. with a few exceptions

we all know the pathetic media coverage of ablett...& thompsons lowbrough behavior..

as one who likes to put oneself in the shoes of others to attempt to anticipate the truth -

Try & make a list of requirements for your own future, if u were a young gun with 10 years ahead of yourself..

1.relationship with coach and playing away from preferred position ?

2;MONEY BIG MONEY : HOW MUCH REALISTICALLY DOES HIS MANAGEMENT THINK HE WILL BE WORTH )

REALISTICALLY U CANNOT PAY HIM MORE THAN "GREEN -DAVEY- FRAWLEY -TRENGOVE.- JURRAH' GRIMES,or even WATTS for that matter.

(cat amongst the pigeons scenario..) his management know that..

3; SPEND YEAR TRYING TO INCREASE HIS BARGAINING POWER & VALUE.( & ALL THE SPECULATION THAT GOES ALA ABLETT. )

4; LEAVE A CLUB IN HIS HOME STATE AWAY FROM FAMILY BENEFITS.-BETTER SUCCESS PROSPECTS >

WILL HE BE COMPETING FOR BIG BUCKS WITH TEAMMATES THAT CLUB CANNOT AFFORD.

5; GO TO WESTY CLUB WITH NEGLIGIBLE PROSPECTS.. IN A LOW GRADE ENVIRONMENT..

& too much expectation.

6; even GWS will be only able to pay 1 player $800 k..

LETS JUST HOPE ITS " SWAN" OR HIS LIKE !!

[Range Rover 1,935]

I'm glad Velocity Sports came out with that statement. There's nowhere really to go now as far as speculation until later in the season. I for one will take Tom, his management and the club at their word.

Just a final point I'd like to make though. There seems to be a number of posters who feel that losing Scully won't overly affect us in the long run. That somehow we've got enough young guns coming through to cover him. I couldn't disagree with more with these sentiments. This kid is going to be something special. A Judd/Hird/Voss level generational champion the likes of which our club has not had since probably Robbie Flower and maybe even the great man who's number he dons on his back - R.D.Barassi. If we're going to get over the line in grand finals against talent-laden sides like Collingwood and the Gold Coast we're going to need Tom Scully. Period.

And I'll repeat what I said earlier, if we do lose him nothing short of a priority no.1 draft pick will suffice as compensation.

Edited February 9, 2011 by Range Rover