The Tom Scully Saga

[bush demon 2,120]

This may be a side issue but is still relevant to the 'potential superstar' tag. On the one hand, Scully is said to be an obsessive trainer and has made sacrifices to get where he is today. Yet his field kicking has a junior, under 16's look to it. So why hasn't he worked on this already, or has he worked on it and there has been no improvement. Or doesn't he care, he'll make a decision on his kicking over summer. Because it doesn't matter how many in-close back and forward stats you rack up, if Scully's passes are landing in an opponent's lap (as they did on Saturday multiple occasions) he will never reach the elite level that most pundits are assuming.

[nutbean 8,838]

This may be a side issue but is still relevant to the 'potential superstar' tag. On the one hand, Scully is said to be an obsessive trainer and has made sacrifices to get where he is today. Yet his field kicking has a junior, under 16's look to it. So why hasn't he worked on this already, or has he worked on it and there has been no improvement. Or doesn't he care, he'll make a decision on his kicking over summer. Because it doesn't matter how many in-close back and forward stats you rack up, if Scully's passes are landing in an opponent's lap (as they did on Saturday multiple occasions) he will never reach the elite level that most pundits are assuming.

i think with more experience and game time it will settle - have a look at Judd's footskills - he has his fair share of clangers too

[Deestroy All 14,266]

This may be a side issue but is still relevant to the 'potential superstar' tag. On the one hand, Scully is said to be an obsessive trainer and has made sacrifices to get where he is today. Yet his field kicking has a junior, under 16's look to it. So why hasn't he worked on this already, or has he worked on it and there has been no improvement. Or doesn't he care, he'll make a decision on his kicking over summer. Because it doesn't matter how many in-close back and forward stats you rack up, if Scully's passes are landing in an opponent's lap (as they did on Saturday multiple occasions) he will never reach the elite level that most pundits are assuming.

This worries me too. Such a perfectionist has not improved his kicking, it makes me cringe every time he misses a target, which is often.

And he does/has worked on it, he worked with a biomechanist on it last year.

Of course he hit a couple of sweet passes yesterday, but he misses more than he hits, and if you go back through the tapes, there aren't many marks on the end of Scully kicks.

[Rogue 585]

The club needs to get on the front foot and announce a press conference on this matter.

Be honest. Address the rumours. Tell us the state of play.

I thought we already did this.

Maybe we should call a press conference and then play the footage of Scully at the last one, because the line is the same.

[Rogue 585]

Really? i didnt hear this

Neither did I.

[Jordie_tackles 354]

pfft - he is a POTENTIALLY great player! But no better than trengove, watts, mckensie or tapscott! They are all potentionally great players and we are a potentionally great team! Still alot to prove.

define generational player or is this just a term you heard on footy classified one monday night!

I think your getting ahead of yourself - to me Michael Jordan is a generational player, Tiger Woods is a generational player, Black Cavier is a generational horse, floyd mayweather jnr is a generational boxer, ian thorpe is a generational swimmer, roger federer is a generational tennis player, chris judd is a generational footy player!

To me scully has the POTENTIAL to be better than anyone and when he is he deserves to be paid accordinly but at the moment he should NOT be paid anymore then the others!

WOW your a joke mate..... Mckenzie and Tapscott are good but not Scully like at all, Scully will get paid well because of what he will be in 3 years time not what he is now... thats what his next contract will be about

[Sir Why You Little 37,242]

This may be a side issue but is still relevant to the 'potential superstar' tag. On the one hand, Scully is said to be an obsessive trainer and has made sacrifices to get where he is today. Yet his field kicking has a junior, under 16's look to it. So why hasn't he worked on this already, or has he worked on it and there has been no improvement. Or doesn't he care, he'll make a decision on his kicking over summer. Because it doesn't matter how many in-close back and forward stats you rack up, if Scully's passes are landing in an opponent's lap (as they did on Saturday multiple occasions) he will never reach the elite level that most pundits are assuming.

Fair point but i am not too worried at this stage.

Look at Scully closely, he is always close to a red hot contested ball, his kicks are mostly lightning quick decisions.

Yes he needs to work on that kicking, and by season 3-4 i am sure it will improve.

His handballing skills right now are better than his foot.

Good, quick sure Hands.

Don't go to GWS Tom please...Make the MCG your stage.

[bush demon 2,120]

I was reading about the phenomenon of 'car polishing', where you work obsessively on things you are already very good at, to cover for the areas you should be working on. Tom Scully has the same issue as Cameron Bruce, very early release of the ball with his guiding hand which leaves a much larger room for error. Compare Scully's style with the classic kicking action of newbie, Jeremy Howe. I just don't think Scully will ever kick like that. The question then is, does it matter, if his other skills ie handballing to a target in traffic are super elite.

[Roost It 1,434]

Don't go to GWS Tom please...Make the MCG your stage.

He will, for collingwood or richmond, GONE!

[Sir Why You Little 37,242]

He will, for collingwood or richmond, GONE!

I am still backing Schwabby & Jimma at this point.

No news is good news i was taught by my mum!!

[Bruce Almighty 0]

WOW your a joke mate..... Mckenzie and Tapscott are good but not Scully like at all, Scully will get paid well because of what he will be in 3 years time not what he is now... thats what his next contract will be about

LMAO, Live in the now buddy, mckensie is more important to our team than scully is at the moment and tapsoctts form before he got injured was terrific!

Gee i hope my employer decides to pay me for what i could be in 3 years times ( That would be the worst business decision ever) paying someone for what they could be LMAO -

ok so on your theory lets pay hawkins 1 mill a year on potential and lets pay jack viney 1 mill a year on potential - just never should happen - grab a brain

[Tatu 416]

Unlike most, I don't think Scully is going to be a great player, very good but not great. His disposal is not up to AFL standard, and I would put him behind Watts, Frawley, Trengove, McKenzie and Gysberts. But he is acting professionally, and unless the facts change he should be given the respect that he deserves

.

I agree 100%.

He'll be a very good player and would be missed, but some of his kick's are shockingly bad....

[Akum 2,660]

I agree 100%.

He'll be a very good player and would be missed, but some of his kick's are shockingly bad....

His bad kicks are usually rushed clearances from congestion. On the run he's usually pretty good.

[Sir Why You Little 37,242]

His bad kicks are usually rushed clearances from congestion. On the run he's usually pretty good.

Correct.

[Striker475 696]

BT maintaining the Scully Press Conference line on AW right now

[Ron Burgundy 8,585]

Trengove could very well captain this club one day. I have no doubt about his loyalty - he also seems to have the smarts and good character about him. I reckon he'd sign a 15 year deal if it was offered to him, and he'd influence his team mates to do the same.

Scully seems different. Great future player perhaps, but I now wish we picked Martin or Rohan or anyone else at pick 2 (Trengove at 1) - because Scully's not paying sufficient respect to this club at the moment (even if he ultimately does agree to terms). Most kids of his age would be absolutely stoked to be seen to be an integral part of an AFL club's future, but this seems almost irrelevant to Scully. I find it wholly bizarre that he seems, almost wilfully, to ignore what the club and its supporters would love him to do. At his age, such discipline and lack of impressionability is almost pathologically weird.

As an aside, the way the club handled Junior last year was a mistake. We are still paying for it IMO.

[Demon16 69]

Trengove could very well captain this club one day. I have no doubt about his loyalty - he also seems to have the smarts and good character about him. I reckon he'd sign a 15 year deal if it was offered to him, and he'd influence his team mates to do the same.

Scully seems different. Great future player perhaps, but I now wish we picked Martin or Rohan or anyone else at pick 2 (Trengove at 1) - because Scully's not paying sufficient respect to this club at the moment (even if he ultimately does agree to terms). Most kids of his age would be absolutely stoked to be seen to be an integral part of an AFL club's future, but this seems almost irrelevant to Scully. I find it wholly bizarre that he seems, almost wilfully, to ignore what the club and its supporters would love him to do. At his age, such discipline and lack of impressionability is almost pathologically weird.

As an aside, the way the club handled Junior last year was a mistake. We are still paying for it IMO.

haven't posted on this topic until now, and i was going to reply to the dixie ice creams/dizzy stuff gold, but this probably sums it up for me Ron.

guys lose respect in my book when they play out contracts like this, let alone a second year player.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

Scully seems different. Great future player perhaps, but I now wish we picked Martin or Rohan or anyone else at pick 2 (Trengove at 1) - because Scully's not paying sufficient respect to this club at the moment (even if he ultimately does agree to terms). Most kids of his age would be absolutely stoked to be seen to be an integral part of an AFL club's future, but this seems almost irrelevant to Scully. I find it wholly bizarre that he seems, almost wilfully, to ignore what the club and its supporters would love him to do. At his age, such discipline and lack of impressionability is almost pathologically weird.

[angrydee 842]

You're off then.

Scully is a generational player. If we keep him he will be the highest paid player - deal with it.

If he stays for half of what GWS is apparently offering he will still get $500k and more than any other player.

Generational players have better disposal. Judd at 16 was infinitely better at kicking than Scully is now.

[angrydee 842]

Trengove could very well captain this club one day. I have no doubt about his loyalty - he also seems to have the smarts and good character about him. I reckon he'd sign a 15 year deal if it was offered to him, and he'd influence his team mates to do the same.

Scully seems different. Great future player perhaps, but I now wish we picked Martin or Rohan or anyone else at pick 2 (Trengove at 1) - because Scully's not paying sufficient respect to this club at the moment (even if he ultimately does agree to terms). Most kids of his age would be absolutely stoked to be seen to be an integral part of an AFL club's future, but this seems almost irrelevant to Scully. I find it wholly bizarre that he seems, almost wilfully, to ignore what the club and its supporters would love him to do. At his age, such discipline and lack of impressionability is almost pathologically weird.

As an aside, the way the club handled Junior last year was a mistake. We are still paying for it IMO.

+1

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Martin is easily the pick of the draft right now. This may change, but right now he is out in front.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

Martin is easily the pick of the draft right now. This may change, but right now he is out in front.

I doubt it'll change, it's scary to think how good he'll be when he's this good already. Only injury could hold him back.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

I doubt it'll change, it's scary to think how good he'll be when he's this good already. Only injury could hold him back.

I doubt there is as much physical change left in him as opposed to Scully, Trengove, Morabito, Gysberts, Fyfe, Bastinac, Melksham et al.

He is certainly going fantastic at the moment, but in the next 10 years, who knows. Similar in the way that Hodge, Ball and Judd get compared i believe...

If all three of Scully, Trengove and Martin became premiership players (along with Gysberts and Tapscott too of course) then i'm sure we'd all be pretty happy...

[Deestroy All 14,266]

I doubt there is as much physical change left in him as opposed to Scully, Trengove, Morabito, Gysberts, Fyfe, Bastinac, Melksham et al.

He is certainly going fantastic at the moment, but in the next 10 years, who knows. Similar in the way that Hodge, Ball and Judd get compared i believe...

If all three of Scully, Trengove and Martin became premiership players (along with Gysberts and Tapscott too of course) then i'm sure we'd all be pretty happy...

I think Gysberts has more upside than all of them, and may well be right at the top of the list in 5 years.

[Hardnut 327]

This thread has gone on for way too long - if Scully wants to continue to play for MFC he should sort it out now.

Personally, I subscribe to the view that a team of players agree to stay together and probably accept less individual payment than they could achieve elsewhere - it's a small individual price to pay for continued success and that inner glow of loyal satisfaction, especially given the relatively high wages paid to footballers these days.

I hope Scully stays - I also hope the rest of our young guns stay and enjoy the benefits of loyalty which can't be measured in dollars.

That's how we were successful in the 50's - Jim Cardwell and Norm Smith would be proud of such players.