Another interesting thing to come out of the Connors video is the fact that he mentions that the CBA will drag on to at least late November. Didn't Tom originally say the reasons for delaying his contract talks was to factor the CBA into his contract???

Well what now? Clearly there is a very likely chance that the CBA won't be finalised before Tom has to make his decision.

For some reason I have a feeling one morning this week I will wake up and news of 'contract talks between MFC and Scully are close' will appear.

I don't know why I have this feeling, but I seriously hope its true..

What a disgusting situation the AFL has created. They are basically putting players in a situation where they have to decide between loyalty to their clubs, teammates and even family, or $2m.

As much as I want Scully to stay, if I was offered $2m to go work for a rival company interstate I'd be on that plane quicker than I could say "hell yes".

The AFL should be ashamed of themselves for having created this monster.

I understand that new clubs need to be supportered, and you can't just throw them into a competition with a rubbish side, but to lure players away on the premise of money and not desire, goes against what the AFL should be about, and is also extremely unfair on established clubs who have worked hard to get themselves into a good position with their own lists.

Why should we lose Scully after 2 years? Do we need him less? Are we not entitled to hold onto our best players? It's just stupid.

It's different when you're talking about senior established players, but kids in the second or third years of their career shouldn't be put in these situations. Pathetic!

For some reason I have a feeling one morning this week I will wake up and news of 'contract talks between MFC and Scully are close' will appear.

I don't know why I have this feeling, but I seriously hope its true..

Funny, because I have a feeling that Scully won't sign until after the season, just as he keeps saying over, and over, and over again. I don't know why I have this feeling...

As much as I want Scully to stay, if I was offered $2m to go work for a rival company interstate I'd be on that plane quicker than I could say "hell yes".

What if your current company offered you $1.5m to stay?

What if your current company offered you $1.5m to stay?

$500,000 is a lot of money!

And it comes down to thinking "well I'm worth that much to one company, so I should be worth that much to my own company".

I get what you're saying, and clearly Scully isn't choosing between a life of wealth and a life of welfare payments, but in reality you'd think that he'd be looking at $1m vs. $600,000 maybe.

I want him to stay but I also don't want our club to pay him so much that down the track we'll have to lose other quality players. There has to be a balance.

GWS don't have those issues so they can afford to throw buckets of money at players. It's impossible to compete.

P.S.- I wish someone offered me $1.5 for my services!

Daveytrain, sadly for you nothing will be bought up today. Scully hasn't signed as a thousand people weekly try to bring up but as Nasher aboves touches on, the chance he signs before Round 20ish is so minimal. If he had signed Round 3 he would have cost himself anywhere between 100,000 to 300,000 off his Melbourne contract. Every good game he plays (FWIW I didn't think he was all he was made out to be Friday) his next salary rises.

He's not an idiot, he's not going to sign a contract just to make loser's like us happy.

What if your current company offered you $1.5m to stay?

Too many people liken this to a work (normal job) situation. I certainly don't see it that way. It is a club, which has much different values to an office. This isn't a discreet office move for extra money, sport, well Australian sport, still has an element of loyalty to it and certainly evokes passion.

In my journalist days I wrote on this topic in regards to the Gold Coast: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/06/07/179941_opinion.html

Too many people liken this to a work (normal job) situation. I certainly don't see it that way. It is a club, which has much different values to an office. This isn't a discreet office move for extra money, sport, well Australian sport, still has an element of loyalty to it and certainly evokes passion.

In my journalist days I wrote on this topic in regards to the Gold Coast: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/06/07/179941_opinion.html

I've read countless articles from Caroline Wilson and never have they been written like that. Yet, she still remains to be the chief Football writer although 2 in 3 articles never flow. Funny how the world works.

I find it unlikely that GWS will offer Scully ludicrous amounts of money.

Why?

Pendelbury.

Has it not occured to most that the latter is seriously hedging his bets by only signing a one year contract extension taking him to the end of next year?

At this stage, GWS will have been gearing up to throw the kitchen sink at him, which will considerably cap the amount they can throw at anyone else this year.

Pendelbury is of far greater significance to GWS than Scully is.

I find it unlikely that GWS will offer Scully ludicrous amounts of money.

Why?

Pendelbury.

Has it not occured to most that the latter is seriously hedging his bets by only signing a one year contract extension taking him to the end of next year?

At this stage, GWS will have been gearing up to throw the kitchen sink at him, which will considerably cap the amount they can throw at anyone else this year.

Pendelbury is of far greater significance to GWS than Scully is.

According to some on here, Pendlebury was not hedging his bets with that one year contract...

Even to the extent that they would like to see Scully sign a one year contract...

I would not be one of those posters...

According to some on here, Pendlebury was not hedging his bets with that one year contract...

Even to the extent that they would like to see Scully sign a one year contract...

I would not be one of those posters...

MFC should go after Pendlebury big time next year

Seriously

In regards to WARD, off topic but feel sad for him with his manager coming out and stating the facts, ie 400k extra etc with half a season to go..... At least the Scully talk is "rumour" his mates now know he may walk out etc

This sort of statement wouldn't occur without Ward's approval.

Essentially it means Ward wants to stay (he is from the bulldogs area, born & bred) but the dogs aren't keen to pony up the cash.

He's just using the media to push his price up a bit because GWS are obviously making him offers and he wants to stay, but not for peanuts.

Difference is, Ward needs to make statements like this to get the cash - Scully will get it no matter where he goes.

MFC should go after Pendlebury big time next year

Seriously

3 gold stars for proactive thinking.

I've read countless articles from Caroline Wilson and never have they been written like that. Yet, she still remains to be the chief Football writer although 2 in 3 articles never flow. Funny how the world works.

Thanks mate. Guess it helps when your dad was the Richmond president for a decade. A flawed profession.

MFC should go after Pendlebury big time next year

Seriously

I am of two minds on this because I like the arrogance. Love it in fact.

But is it the right type of player, at the right time?

I would say, go for it. Stars are stars.

Too many people liken this to a work (normal job) situation. I certainly don't see it that way. It is a club, which has much different values to an office. This isn't a discreet office move for extra money, sport, well Australian sport, still has an element of loyalty to it and certainly evokes passion.

In my journalist days I wrote on this topic in regards to the Gold Coast: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/06/07/179941_opinion.html

totally agree

i think im going to scream if i read 'if my employer offered me..' one more time

you are not a 19 yr old footballer set to earn millions. you are one of the pack, we have our nine-to-fives and our mortgages and blahblahblah

stop comparing apples with oranges FFS

I've had the same concerns over this hypothetical, rpfc.

Also, what would we have to give up to get him?

No way we could fit him under our cap and pay all our kids, even if we could get him for free.

It would bring up a litany of issues.

Worth it? His type won't exactly be a weakness once the kids develop.

Although, how do you turn away the prospect of an out & out star of the competition?

Just some things to ponder.

MFC should go after Pendlebury big time next year

Seriously

Great call.

MFC should go after Pendlebury big time next year

Seriously

you just never know, I know the romantic notion is cringe worthy and overstated but he was a devout Demons fan growing up...

So we go after Pendles...

What? With all the money left in the salary cap after paying Scully, Trengove, Watts, Gysberts, Sylvia, Moloney and Frawley the big bucks they deserve...

I doubt in 2 years time we would have that much money left to import a star into a team of (hopefully) stars... It would be like Geelong poaching Franklin!

you just never know, I know the romantic notion is cringe worthy and overstated but he was a devout Demons fan growing up...

So was C. Judd...

So we go after Pendles...

What? With all the money left in the salary cap after paying Scully, Trengove, Watts, Gysberts, Sylvia, Moloney and Frawley the big bucks they deserve...

I doubt in 2 years time we would have that much money left to import a star into a team of (hopefully) stars... It would be like Geelong poaching Franklin!

We have frontloaded contracts in an attempt to try and get someone next year or when FA comes in.

Cam Schwab mentions it all the time.

you just never know, I know the romantic notion is cringe worthy and overstated but he was a devout Demons fan growing up...

there is nothing cringe worthy being a demon fan (devout or not)

what IS cringe worthy is looking for excuses why we wouldn't get him

if we want to be a top club we should try and find a way

apart from being a star etc he would be the right age for a flag tilt

I know this wouldnt work in practice but, if every Melbourne football club member gave a $2 keep Scully match levee to the club for every match (h&a) at seasons end there would be 1.5m.