I watched "On the Couch" and "Football Confidential" last night, and read the predictions in the weekend newspapers pre-season, and it was interesting to note the experts view of the Dees. To sum up:

1. Most seem to have us finishing 9th, 8th or 7th.

2. Most seem to think Bailey will be reappointed provided we are at least in contention for the eight,

3. Tha opinion on Tom Scully is that there is some sort of agreement in place about his move to GWS, although they are divided whether this means he will leave the Dees or not at the end of the year. Caro was very very critical of Eddie McGuire for saying "Scully is Gone" and then suggesting the info came from inside the GWS. She saw this as an attempt by McGuire to undermine the stability of another club by a power president of the most powerful team in the competition which she regarded as reprehensible and highly conflicted. Paul Roos also suggested if Scully left Melbourne it would wound the club far more than Ablett leaving Geelong.

Even though mike Sheahan is supposed to be a demon supporter, he continues to insist there is an arrangement in place for Scully to leave, citing undisclosed sources. Sheahan does have very good inside knowledge and the fact that he continues to insist on this in the face of quite a lot of criticism is a worry.

Edited March 21, 201114 yr by DeesPower

Sheahan also said he thinks Scully will stay after Scully held a press-conference.

Sheahan also said he thinks Scully will stay after Scully held a press-conference.

He ended his newspaper article following Scully's conference with the words "until Tom Scully signs with Melbourne he is going to GWS". That does not seem to say he is staying.

Caro also was critical of scully's agent "Velocity" (which is also Fevola's agent, or was until yesterday) for not bringing this to a head now if it is true Scully will stay with Melbourne. She did however believe that at the end of the day he will stay.

I continue to dislike how they bring up the 8 players who went to the GC that they spoke about last year (as Sheehan did last night again), so it must mean Scully is gone this year. There were many players rumoured to be going to the GC last year who did not sign!

I continue to dislike how they bring up the 8 players who went to the GC that they spoke about last year (as Sheehan did last night again), so it must mean Scully is gone this year. There were many players rumoured to be going to the GC last year who did not sign!

Ricky Pettard for one, Brad Miller for another.

I think 2007 is a great example of how expert footy prediction is so often wrong. We were tipped for big things post-2006, even though we were very likely to only get worse.

Even though mike Sheahan is supposed to be a demon supporter, he continues to insist there is an arrangement in place for Scully to leave, citing undisclosed sources. Sheahan does have very good inside knowledge and the fact that he continues to insist on this in the face of quite a lot of criticism is a worry.

If he had a source telling him Scully was going, why would he say otherwise? Being a MFC supporter doesn't have anything to do with it. It would be different if he said 'I want Scully to leave' - then you might wonder if he's aDees man.

I continue to dislike how they bring up the 8 players who went to the GC that they spoke about last year (as Sheehan did last night again), so it must mean Scully is gone this year. There were many players rumoured to be going to the GC last year who did not sign!

It's just the media big-noting themselves. Dont read to much into it. As you said yourself, there were other players coming out of contract that were named also. I think Frawley and/or Petterd might have been named last year, though not 100% sure.

Paul Roos also suggested if Scully left Melbourne it would wound the club far more than Ablett leaving Geelong.

I agree on this, only it's a slight set back if he goes. Geelong had the two flags, the brownlow and all the glory for a few years. We have nothing (YET).

I agree on this, only it's a slight set back if he goes. Geelong had the two flags, the brownlow and all the glory for a few years. We have nothing (YET).

This doesn't make sense.

I continue to dislike how they bring up the 8 players who went to the GC that they spoke about last year (as Sheehan did last night again), so it must mean Scully is gone this year. There were many players rumoured to be going to the GC last year who did not sign!

The media have got to write about something all year to fill pages on a daily basis. Tom will make up his mind on future contracts at years end.

Totally agree about Eddie. He undermines other clubs all the time. I don't mind the bloke and admire what he has done for the Pies, but I think it was inappropriate for him to speak like that. I don't think he has any grounds at all. Just trying to stir it up, take attention off his own club.

This doesn't make sense.

It makes sense. The sentences just have nothing to do with each other.

Totally agree about Eddie. He undermines other clubs all the time. I don't mind the bloke and admire what he has done for the Pies, but I think it was inappropriate for him to speak like that. I don't think he has any grounds at all. Just trying to stir it up, take attention off his own club.

Absolutely. Listening Closely to the Replayed Podcast of Eddie's original Scully "editorial" i could tell he had chosen his words very carefully.

At the same time i was proud of the way the MFC dug in and remained silent. In past years this club would have rolled over. Eddie was out of line sure, but it's a tough gig & we are far better off saying nothing but not forgetting.

Revenge is best served Cold.

It makes sense. The sentences just have nothing to do with each other.

It's not a slight setback if he goes, it's a major one (depending on compensation, but even then we need to use those picks, 2 or more years after Scully himself was drafted, making it a setback).

You're right that the sentences have nothing to do with each other.

The assertion is that Geelong have lost a past premiership player and brownlow medallist, so their loss is greater.

This is not correct. It's about what both Ablett and Scully can do between now and the end of their careers, nothing to do with what they have done in the past.

The thing that fascinates me is the scattering of 'media experts' having a tip each way - 'Melbourne as most improved' at the same time as 'Melbourne won't make the finals'.

The other one that amuses me is that Melbourne features strongly in both 'most improved' and 'biggest disappointment' tips.

The only consistent thing out there is the love for Liam Jurrah

The descriptor of 'expert' is thrown around far too easily these days, clearly.

The thing that fascinates me is the scattering of 'media experts' having a tip each way - 'Melbourne as most improved' at the same time as 'Melbourne won't make the finals'.

The other one that amuses me is that Melbourne features strongly in both 'most improved' and 'biggest disappointment' tips.

The only consistent thing out there is the love for Liam Jurrah

From that you can take it that....We shall be cut no more slack in the media, and TBH we have had an incredible run. But then what journo is going to give the Big Jimma a serve??

It won't happen!!!!

The descriptor of 'expert' is thrown around far too easily these days, clearly.

They are a paid opinion and that's all. They don't tell us about the ones they got wrong or gloat about how badly they did in last years footy tipping. Most of us could do the same job as them comfortably and I can think of a few posters here that would put them to shame.

When the pundits boast about how they got "all 8 players" right, they conveniently overlook Pavlich & Tippett who were often mentioned in dispatches before they re-signed with Freo & the Cows.

Caro was very very critical of Eddie McGuire for saying "Scully is Gone" and then suggesting the info came from inside the GWS. She saw this as an attempt by McGuire to undermine the stability of another club by a power president of the most powerful team in the competition which she regarded as reprehensible and highly conflicted.

Spot on Caro.

McGuire has been shamelessly conflicted for years.I reckon the term "reprehensible" describes his behavior pretty well!

This doesn't make sense.

Look at it this way.

What would hurt you more,

A. Scully leaving at the end of the year after we make and play in september, or

B. Scully leaving in 5 years time after winning 1 or 2 flags.

I think after winning a flag it softens the blow a bit. Just my opinion though.

Totally agree about Eddie. He undermines other clubs all the time. I don't mind the bloke and admire what he has done for the Pies, but I think it was inappropriate for him to speak like that. I don't think he has any grounds at all. Just trying to stir it up, take attention off his own club.

He portrayed the Tigers in a very bad light when their player was caught breaking the road rules, causing them to lose their TAC sponsorship.

This was to deflect the fault collingwood had with their players bad driving issues. colingwood kept thier tac sponsorship, and richmond lost thiers. Really bad form from the D*^>, big Head.

I think we're actually in fierce agreement, but your use of "slight" has thrown me.

I think it'd be significant.

I think we're actually in fierce agreement, but your use of "slight" has thrown me.

I think it'd be significant.

I think using the term "slight" makes me feel better.