FOr those that think it will help memebership. I think thats off the mark. Personally, i think losing Scully would greatly affect our chance of winning a flag. I firmly believe he will be 7-8 or 9 time All-Australian. The 'one player isnt bigger than the club' bulldust is right in theory..but 1 player can de-rail a clubs hopes..and scully would drop our chances dramatically. Brisbane without Aker, Hawthorn without Buddy, St.Kilfa without Riewoldt, Collingwood without Pendlebury..Melbourne without Scully?

I still have not got over Scott Thompson going to Adelaide. The club didn't do enough there. more money should have been thrown around. Even at the expense of another player. He was always going to be a gun. We got pick 16 for him :S

Personally, i think losing Scully would greatly affect our chance of winning a flag. I firmly believe he will be 7-8 or 9 time All-Australian. The 'one player isnt bigger than the club' bulldust is right in theory..but 1 player can de-rail a clubs hopes..and scully would drop our chances dramatically. Brisbane without Aker, Hawthorn without Buddy, St.Kilfa without Riewoldt, Collingwood without Pendlebury..Melbourne without Scully?

This might be the first thing in almost 1600 posts of yours that I agree with. Losing Scully would be huge. I think the "no player is bigger than the club" is nice and all and helps those who are pre-empting his loss and are working on creating appropriate defense mechanisms. Best case scenario if he leaves is getting a couple of half decent compo picks and finding a player his equal and having to wait an extra 3 years for that player to develop to his level - but finding someone who brings his rare combination of pace, endurance, professionalism, leadership and skill will be unlikley.

I remember being pretty excited when our official sportsbet odds had us as clear favourites to win the race for Judd. The odds of Scully leaving Melbourne are disturbingly similar. Could two favourites in row get rolled? Here's hoping.

That rumour about Schwabby starting the frenzy is so twisted, you couldn't make that stuff up.

If Scully signs early as you say, I will hail him as a genius.

It would truly be a brilliant move.

Nothing could ignite the passion of our supporter group like the seemingly-certain prospect of losing our young future star, then the elation of retaining him.

Wickedly delicious.

The bloke who posted that has already retracted as it was BS.

I wouldn't be surprised if Tom is pushing for talks to clear the air but I have no idea.

Good luck to all involved.

This is not your fathers MFC - we will keep him, and we will win flags.

Has he?

I took it to mean he made up the bit about it being his cousins girlfriends hairdresser, or whatever.

In any case, it was some serious left-field thinking.

Firstly, haven't been interested in any of this enough to make me read the 23 pages this is now up to. complete waste of everyone's time. The mail I have, reliable source (yes many of you will sook that your not getting a name, deal with it) is that he has no intentions of heading to GWS and that he will sign with Melbourne at the end of the year as has always been the plan. Makes sense much like anyone else would, if GWS were not in the picture nothing would be made of it. Think of the publicity his management will receive all year, its a win for everyone really. we get him, he gets good coin, manager gets new clients.

Secondly if my mail were wrong and he was a certainty to head to GWS, we can't do anything about it so not worth discussing or feeding the media frenzy with.

The most frustrating thing about this saga is that we haven't heard nothing from the man himself. I'm sick of hearing of unnamed sources claiming he's not going anywhere and telling us to just relax. I could accept it if he makes a statement saying he has been approached by GWS but won't entertain all suitors till the end of the season. And what I really wan't to hear from him is to say what his manager did not say and that is, refute the rumour that he has already agreed either directly with GWS or through a proxy that he will play for them in 2012. If he cannot come across with this rebuttal then I think he should do the honourable thing and resign.

It is leverage by GWS to put out the vibe that they have hooked a biggun' because it adds to their recruiting cache ie 'we got scully so why don't you, you and you jump on board too.

Is it more unjust that GWS can target Tom Scully than it is that they can target Marc Murphy? He was pick 1 in 2005 and Carlton have spent 5 years developing him and he should be entering his prime right now. It's a long bow to draw that Carlton have had their value from Murphy.

It somehow seems like robbing the kid from the womb.

Thats what Stings most, that we have barely had a chance to let him grow into the club.

And thats why it's so upsetting & confounding to me & I think most supporters. Thats it's so soon after we recruited him & so soon after our major hour of need.

I think it stinks..... And Marc Murphy's arrival at Carlton, wasn't the squeaky cleanest arrival,,, as a father son...

It strikes me that,,, The clubs that win almost everything, the Carltons,,, & the Colllingwoods,,, & to a lesser extent the Bombers, always seem to make sure they WIN These Battles To Keep Key Personelle.

The most frustrating thing about this saga is that we haven't heard nothing from the man himself. I'm sick of hearing of unnamed sources claiming he's not going anywhere and telling us to just relax. I could accept it if he makes a statement saying he has been approached by GWS but won't entertain all suitors till the end of the season. And what I really wan't to hear from him is to say what his manager did not say and that is, refute the rumour that he has already agreed either directly with GWS or through a proxy that he will play for them in 2012. If he cannot come across with this rebuttal then I think he should do the honourable thing and resign.

Again! You're like a broken bloody record!

His management has released a statement on his behalf covering your request, as you would expect of any 2nd year AFL player.

The kid is not a seasoned media performer like Daisy Thomas or Marc Murphy, nor should he be expected to be.

Are you Kevin Sheedy?

All you seem to want to do is feed the irrational frenzy...

So much common sense and logic is continually being ignored.

Again! You're like a broken bloody record!

His management has released a statement on his behalf covering your request, as you would expect of any 2nd year AFL player.

The kid is not a seasoned media performer like Daisy Thomas or Marc Murphy, nor should he be expected to be.

Are you Kevin Sheedy?

All you seem to want to do is feed the irrational frenzy...

So much common sense and logic is continually being ignored.

+1.

+1.

Well I was speaking to a guy tonight who was a little more drunk than he might have wanted to be. He is a pretty connected person - I would say a reliable source. He said that GWS are red hot and pretty confident of getting Scully over the line, but that he has absolutely not signed yet. I know it's nothing new, so take it for whatever it's worth!

Well I was speaking to a guy tonight who was a little more drunk than he might have wanted to be. He is a pretty connected person - I would say a reliable source. He said that GWS are red hot and pretty confident of getting Scully over the line, but that he has absolutely not signed yet. I know it's nothing new, so take it for whatever it's worth!

Sounds reasonable - GWS is throwing everything at him, we have faith he isn't signed anywhere and Tom wants to wait til the end of the season.

I'm still sticking with my plan of disregarding all rumours but that one makes the most sense of all I've heard.

Sounds reasonable - GWS is throwing everything at him, we have faith he isn't signed anywhere and Tom wants to wait til the end of the season.

I'm still sticking with my plan of disregarding all rumours but that one makes the most sense of all I've heard.

Speaks volumes for the thread when a drunk guy makes the most sense.

+1.

+1

Well I was speaking to a guy tonight who was a little more drunk than he might have wanted to be. He is a pretty connected person - I would say a reliable source. He said that GWS are red hot and pretty confident of getting Scully over the line, but that he has absolutely not signed yet. I know it's nothing new, so take it for whatever it's worth!

How come when someone supposedly gains some information from a source, even when the source are drunk in a bar, the person who gains the info suddenly feels the binding moral responsibility to withhold that persons name?

How come when someone supposedly gains some information from a source, even when the source are drunk in a bar, the person who gains the info suddenly feels the binding moral responsibility to withhold that persons name?

because you'd have to be a pretty average bloke to betray their confidence and post their name on a public website? and they would know you did it?

in any case I learnt my lesson with the Judd issue when about 20 different people cited their reliable sources that he was coming to Melbourne

The most frustrating thing about this saga is that we haven't heard nothing from the man himself.

"We haven't heard nothing"??

From that double negative I can see you finally admit that his manager's statement is tantamount to 'Tom's words'?

I'm sick of hearing of unnamed sources claiming he's not going anywhere and telling us to just relax.

I'm sick of hearing the reverse based on nothing but their own battered psyche.

I could accept it if he makes a statement saying he has been approached by GWS but won't entertain all suitors till the end of the season. And what I really wan't to hear from him is to say what his manager did not say and that is, refute the rumour that he has already agreed either directly with GWS or through a proxy that he will play for them in 2012.

Statement was made. It effectively said that he hasn't signed, but that isn't good enough is it. They have reason to lie! They want the money! They're laughing at us right now!

If he cannot come across with this rebuttal then I think he should do the honourable thing and resign.

You have got to be kidding me?!

A kid is weighing up his future, and we are going to give him an ultimatum where if we don't get an immediate affirmative to a contract renewal - we will force him to resign??

Wow.

Stupidity knows no bounds.

So you've never heard of "credible deniability"?

Velocity never said the statement was approved by Tom. Tom has made no statements. Obviously he would know if he had signed anything but he wouldn't necessarily know any of the other stuff.

Incredulous deniability would be more like it ! Please point me to any statement made by any manager that a footballer has then turned around and said "Oh that was my manager speaking, don't take any notice of him - its not what I want to do - he speaks for himself not me". wow...

There have been lots of rumours and stuff going every which way, however the one thing that I firmly believe is that when a manager stands up and says " Tom hasnt signed anything" then he is talking for Tom - thats what he is paid to do. I dont necessarily believe the statement, but credible deniability ?? Are you asking the board to swallow that Tom's management speak with an independent voice so Tom can say - pffft - thats my management speaking about me and not what i want or have done ??

Wow.

I didn't closely read DC's post the first time around.

I thought you were referring to the fact it would NOT be considered credible deniability.

That's ludicrous.

Individual personalities are very much directing predictions in this thread. The optimist is convinced he will stay, and sees much evidence for it (up and coming club, young group, Jimmy, Barassi's number, possible premiership and so on); the pessimist is convinced he will go (money of course!), and the realist accepts that he is playing for Melbourne this year and nothing official has been confirmed to this point that would indicate that he is staying on with Melbourne or that he is leaving to GWS.

Wow.

I didn't closely read DC's post the first time around.

I thought you were referring to the fact it would NOT be considered credible deniability.

That's ludicrous.

Do I want him to sign now and all this to go away ?

Yes - however all those asking for clarification - I would have thought that the statement made by his management, who represent him have answered all questions.

1/ TS contract will not be negotiating until seasons end

2/ TS hasnt signed a contract with GWS

3/ There have been no negotiations with GWS

Whether we believe this or not is up for debate and as to the last point - I don't believe it or at least I don't believe that Velocity don't know whats on offer from GWS - but I think the statement was unambiguous. I dont need to hear from TS's mouth that he hasnt signed anything, I don't need to hear he loves the club and wants to stay but they are negotiating ( because I have all that before - I want to be a one club player and then a massive offer moves them elsewhere). All I want to hear from TS's mouth is that he has signed an extension. Thats enough for me

Individual personalities are very much directing predictions in this thread. The optimist is convinced he will stay, and sees much evidence for it (up and coming club, young group, Jimmy, Barassi's number, possible premiership and so on); the pessimist is convinced he will go (money of course!), and the realist accepts that he is playing for Melbourne this year and nothing official has been confirmed to this point that would indicate that he is staying on with Melbourne or that he is leaving to GWS.

good post - I'm way too pragmatic - I fall into camp 3

Tom Scully is getting seriously overhyped around here.

From what I have seen so far, he is an exceptional athlete, with an extremely professional attitude, with poor disposal. He had a good first year, but not an extraordinarily good first year. I'd put Watts, Trengrove, Sylvia, Grimes and Frawley ahead of him in value to the club over the next five years.

I'd hate to lose him, he will at least be a good player, but after reading some of this it sounds like he is by far the most talented player in the competition, which currently, in my opinion, he is not.

Individual personalities are very much directing predictions in this thread. The optimist is convinced he will stay, and sees much evidence for it (up and coming club, young group, Jimmy, Barassi's number, possible premiership and so on); the pessimist is convinced he will go (money of course!), and the realist accepts that he is playing for Melbourne this year and nothing official has been confirmed to this point that would indicate that he is staying on with Melbourne or that he is leaving to GWS.

I'm a realist about the situation, but I am confident that this isn't our fathers MFC - we will keep the generational talents that fall our way and they will help us win flags.