The Tom Scully Saga

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

Tom Scully will stay.

Jeez, you're no fun.

Can't you just say that a neighbour's friend who is Gubby Allen's cousin is 110% certain that's he's signed?

Feeding frenzies don't keep on going by themselves, you know.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

To paraphrase what you've said there: "there's rumours about Scully, there are no rumours about Sylvia."

To summarise my response: "just as I thought: SFA".

Thanks for clearing it up.

There is a rumour about Tom Scully and it's hurting the club;if Scully had any consideration for the club he would clear up the matter right now and let the club get on with it.

How could any Melbourne Supporter or any Melbourne player have any respect for Scully for allowing this matter to drag on for so long, he's lost me he is either a money grabber or deceitful. Personally I'm sick of the club being screwed by players like Yze, Trapper, Bruce, Davey, Green etc etc and now Scully.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,360]

Is he all cracked up to be .... The guy can't hit a target and he's never really hit the scoreboard like other class mids do.

[Pates 9,537]

There is a rumour about Tom Scully and it's hurting the club;if Scully had any consideration for the club he would clear up the matter right now and let the club get on with it.

How could any Melbourne Supporter or any Melbourne player have any respect for Scully for allowing this matter to drag on for so long, he's lost me he is either a money grabber or deceitful. Personally I'm sick of the club being screwed by players like Yze, Trapper, Bruce, Davey, Green etc etc and now Scully.

I understand that it hurts to see the club being pounded every single week in the media about Scully, but i think you're being incredibly harsh on a bloke that's having to make the biggest decision of his life at the age of 20. He's hot property, why the hell wouldn't he (and his management) try to get the best deal he can out of it? Frankly if he goes i won't blame him at all, if i was in his position i'd find it very difficult to turn my back on the GWS offer.

I'm still of the opinion he will stay, but i'm concerned about how much we'll pay to keep him and whether it'll impact on our ability to keep this group of potential stars together. Perhaps it's the Melbourne fan in me coming out, but i think we're almost in a lose/lose situation.

[dazzledavey36 49,050]

wait.. robbief what did how did yze buce davey trapper and green screw the club??

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,636]

There is a rumour about Tom Scully and it's hurting the club;if Scully had any consideration for the club he would clear up the matter right now and let the club get on with it.

How could any Melbourne Supporter or any Melbourne player have any respect for Scully for allowing this matter to drag on for so long, he's lost me he is either a money grabber or deceitful. Personally I'm sick of the club being screwed by players like Yze, Trapper, Bruce, Davey, Green etc etc and now Scully.

:) :)

Thought he bleeds for the club.

Thought you were his greatest fan.....

:) :)

Scully has done nothing but wait and see what happens with the new collective bargaining agreement. He'd be a fool to sign until he knows what is happening.

He's done nothing wrong, only the hysterical fans have

[Range Rover 1,935]

I'm going to say it. We should've taken Trengove/Dustin Martin at 1/2.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,360]

If it's all about kicking effectiveness than t Scully gets a massive fail in my book. Watch him tomoz, see if his kicking is actually 1 million per season worth.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Where are you facts? you seem to blame CS and adamant that there was a democractic vote by all 16 clubs? where are you facts Rhino? ...you got none...so stop using childish tactics and pretending this is legal battle or that your arguments have any more credibility than others.

If you are going to come out swinging at leasr get half the facts right. I have never stated that there was a democratic vote by all 16 clubs.

The issue is that GWS/GC intro into AFL has been on the AFL agenda for 2 to 3 years. AFL CEOs were given access to the terms of the introduction as per Gary March. An AFL club CEO would be doing his job to consider the implications for his Club. I would have thought MFC had more at risk than other Clubs given its collection of talented youth.

There are no conspiracy theories, just media observations over the way the GWS concessions were put to vote. You seem to belive all 16 club presidents were negligent in duties by approving the concessions, I believe that it was a done deal beforehand. Believe me, I dont subscribe to any conspiracy theories..

Got some of the media links to the the decision made.Now you are claiming there was a vote now? And you are wrong again on the assetion that I said all club presidents were negligent. But at least you are consistent.

[Sir Why You Little 34,722]

No Tom has not screwed the club far from it, i would prefer a commitment sooner or later regardless of which way-But i can see Tom's POV.

It is the AFL rules that are screwing the club, and yes we just have to suck it & see.

What does worry me is that the HOA will not be sorted until December now i am hearing. What difference is this going to make?

Plot Thickens.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I understand that it hurts to see the club being pounded every single week in the media about Scully, but i think you're being incredibly harsh on a bloke that's having to make the biggest decision of his life at the age of 20. He's hot property, why the hell wouldn't he (and his management) try to get the best deal he can out of it? Frankly if he goes i won't blame him at all, if i was in his position i'd find it very difficult to turn my back on the GWS offer.

I'm still of the opinion he will stay, but i'm concerned about how much we'll pay to keep him and whether it'll impact on our ability to keep this group of potential stars together. Perhaps it's the Melbourne fan in me coming out, but i think we're almost in a lose/lose situation.

Tom Scully is old enough to understand that it's causing the club a lot of embarrassment and concern he is also old enough to understand that it is very disruptive to the players and the club. If it's money he wants then GWS win out so let's make the decision and get on with it. There are other players in his age group, who are as good, who have made their decision and have decided to stay and show some loyalty, all Tom has shown so far is he is interested in the financial side of things and nothing else. Good on him if he is driven by the Dollar but if that's the case I don't want him around the club because this will come back every time his contract is up for negotiation.

it says a lot to me about the man if this is the way he operates and i don't like what i see.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I'm going to say it. We should've taken Trengove/Dustin Martin at 1/2.

I'll second that, Tom Scully never looked to me, right from the start, that he was happy being selected by Melbourne.

[Nasher 33,133]

There is a rumour about Tom Scully and it's hurting the club;if Scully had any consideration for the club he would clear up the matter right now and let the club get on with it.

How could any Melbourne Supporter or any Melbourne player have any respect for Scully for allowing this matter to drag on for so long, he's lost me he is either a money grabber or deceitful. Personally I'm sick of the club being screwed by players like Yze, Trapper, Bruce, Davey, Green etc etc and now Scully.

Are you really asking for a player to handle contract negotiations differently just because there are rumours? Frankly, it's not Tom Scully's problem if Gubby Allan's rumour factory has put a few jumpy supporters' nickers in a twist, and if I were his manager I'd be advising him the same thing.

If what you're suggesting ever became the way, we'd start seeing the clubs themselves start generating rumours about their own players, just so they could play the "sorry son, the rumours are everywhere so we need you to sign yesterday or else" card.

[Nasher 33,133]

I'll second that, Tom Scully never looked to me, right from the start, that he was happy being selected by Melbourne.

Oh FFS.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Oh FFS.

I didn't see Dustin Martin putting himself ahead of Richmond last year when he signed on with the Tiges long-term. Nor Marc Murphy this year at Carlton.

Tom Scully seems to be cut from from different cloth. That's fine for him. Not so good for us.

[Nasher 33,133]

I didn't see Dustin Martin putting himself ahead of Richmond last year when he signed on with the Tiges long-term. Nor Marc Murphy this year at Carlton.

Tom Scully seems to be cut from from different cloth. That's fine for him. Not so good for us.

To suggest that choosing Scully was a mistake because of that is silly, though. I'm sure Freo are spewing they drafted Pav too - after all, he pulls this stunt just about every time his contract comes up.

To suggest that choosing Scully was a mistake because he didn't "look happy" as Robbie suggested is up there with the silliest things I've read in this thread, which takes some doing.

Scully was drafted where he was because he was considered (almost universally) to be the best player in the draft.

[Tony Tea 2,792]

According to Brian Taylor (3AW today) Matthew Kreuzer knocked back a huge offer from GWS & re-committed to Carlton.

How does Carlton attract & keep stars, while Melbourne misses out?

My great fear is that Scully will go to the West Sydney Ramraiders for three years and three million dollars, then come back to Victoria to join his preferred "big" club.

More generally. With free-agency on the way, Melbourne could end up like an EPL feeder club, incapable of keeping players when the big clubs come a-poaching. I follow Wimbledon AFC in English soccer and they (like plenty of others) exist merely to develop players for the likes of Man-U and Chelsea.

[Sir Why You Little 34,722]

I didn't see Dustin Martin putting himself ahead of Richmond last year when he signed on with the Tiges long-term. Nor Marc Murphy this year at Carlton.

Tom Scully seems to be cut from from different cloth. That's fine for him. Not so good for us.

Tom is cut from different cloth, yes well said. And the main reason i hope the club does everything it can to keep him.

He is the exact player we need going forward.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Are you really asking for a player to handle contract negotiations differently just because there are rumours? Frankly, it's not Tom Scully's problem if Gubby Allan's rumour factory has put a few jumpy supporters' nickers in a twist, and if I were his manager I'd be advising him the same thing.

If what you're suggesting ever became the way, we'd start seeing the clubs themselves start generating rumours about their own players, just so they could play the "sorry son, the rumours are everywhere so we need you to sign yesterday or else" card.

Yeah I am and it's not just a big footy rumour we are talking about here this is a persistent rumour that is having a big effect on the club and it's consuming the resources we have in trying to promote a positive front. Do you think the Coach the Players the committee and the management at the club are enjoying this? Do you think they want to continually fend off the media answering questions about this?

If Tom Scully can't see that it's effecting the club he must be an idiot, if he can and isn't concerned then I don't want him there.

I watched the draft with my wife and we both said at the time that he looked indifferent when he was drafted, if you think he looked more than mildly interested then we watched different drafts.

[Mono 454]

Whoooa ... 29 pages going around in circles. FWIW i thought he was leaving at the end of last year; still do and this weeks media frenzy would seem to confirm it.

BUT - where is he going?

For me GWS never made sense: he is not a game winner/breaker yet (a few years away a best); he is not a marquee player; he doesn't have a film star demeanor or presence. He is not what they need now (but speculation may raise his price).

My guess? GC - they will probably finish last, so will have pick 6 to offer (and probably a player - they have to reduce their list). AND who better to play with and learn from than Ablett, the games best, in a rapidly developing mid-field. AND they will have the $s to make it attractive. AND quite probably a culture of professionalism that he doesn't see at MFC.

If not GC, then Brisbane will have a low pick; Voss is still a legend (with Black, Power and Brown) and they will have $s as Rich, Clark and others have been signalled as possible losses.

Then there's Carlton: playing with Judd (and Murphy) would have to be a huge attraction; delisting McLean will free up $s and a FD with probably unlimited $s. (Getting the deal done may be a problem here - no low picks available probably.)

So when he has said that he or his people have not spoken with GWS, maybe he is being truthful. Someone should ask him if he, his management or his family has spoken with any other club.

Interesting times.

Edited June 18, 2011 by Mono

[stranga 328]

There is a rumour about Tom Scully and it's hurting the club;if Scully had any consideration for the club he would clear up the matter right now and let the club get on with it.

How could any Melbourne Supporter or any Melbourne player have any respect for Scully for allowing this matter to drag on for so long, he's lost me he is either a money grabber or deceitful. Personally I'm sick of the club being screwed by players like Yze, Trapper, Bruce, Davey, Green etc etc and now Scully.

I'm with you on this. Stay or go I think he's tainted himself in my eyes, even though it's the medias hype that is causing the pain more than anything. The fact that he's a 25 gamer who's proven nothing yet he and his mgr feel they can hold us to ransom is leaving a sour taste.

I'm starting to wish we had taken trengove Martin and avoided all this.

Edited June 18, 2011 by stranga

[Guest watts04]

a loyal number one pick would have been nice....even cooney didnt go back to adelaide

give me that draft again and martin who didnt hold richmond to ransom....

tom is gettin bad advice....i dont see he is the kind of kid to screw the club but he is makin us look silly

how does every other club keep its young picks but not us?????

[Sir Why You Little 34,722]

a loyal number one pick would have been nice....even cooney didnt go back to adelaide

give me that draft again and martin who didnt hold richmond to ransom....

tom is gettin bad advice....i dont see he is the kind of kid to screw the club but he is makin us look silly

how does every other club keep its young picks but not us?????

new franchaises are not introduced into the AFL each year. This phase is just bad timing, and it is good old MFC who is once again being shat on by it. I hate it, but it is not Tom's fault.

[Jerry Lundergard 390]

Anyone watching Martin tonight? Wow-Wee!!!!!

[Sir Why You Little 34,722]

Anyone watching Martin tonight? Wow-Wee!!!!!

going well is he???