Give me a damage report, Joker.

That was a reference. If you got it, you're a nerd.

Playing it on Hardcore in my spare time right now. Can't wait til March.

We also need to remember we have 3 key players out of contract. Scully, Sylvia and Morton. I dare say GWS are chasing all 3. Almost certain Sylvia will stay, will take a lot for him to leave.

Don't you mean 2 key players? :)

Don't you mean 2 key players? :)

The 3rd player (non key) frustrates the hell out of me. His effort on the wing/ half forward in front of the members in the 3rd quarter showed what he can do. Grabbed the ball turned the player inside out by turning on a dime then shoved it straight to Green for a goal. And then we get the other Cale. Damn him.

The 3rd player (non key) frustrates the hell out of me. His effort on the wing/ half forward in front of the members in the 3rd quarter showed what he can do. Grabbed the ball turned the player inside out by turning on a dime then shoved it straight to Green for a goal. And then we get the other Cale. Damn him.

Yes, I did notice that little cameo...................all too rare unfortunately

We have reportedly given him a "best offer we can give" offer, and that is that.

So it tacit to say it is within our wage structure (to borrow an EPL term).

He will be paid more than if the GWS didn't exist. Yes and?

There is little doubt that "best offer we can give" is above what we would have given if GWS didn't exist - and that we have had to modify our "wage structure" to make that offer. At least one - if not several of his teamates - are going to have to pay his "GWS premium".

For no fault of his own Tom will be damned if he goes ( as a mercenary) and damned if he doesn't ( as a mug who "looked a gift horse in the mouth")

We'd be better off putting the whole thing behind us.

Damn GWS!

In a week or two will it be Tom Scully or Tom $cully

Almost certain Sylvia will stay, will take a lot for him to leave.

why do you say this?

There is little doubt that "best offer we can give" is above what we would have given if GWS didn't exist - and that we have had to modify our "wage structure" to make that offer. At least one - if not several of his teamates - are going to have to pay his "GWS premium".

For no fault of his own Tom will be damned if he goes ( as a mercenary) and damned if he doesn't ( as a mug who "looked a gift horse in the mouth")

We'd be better off putting the whole thing behind us.

Damn GWS!

We are going to have to pay people more than they are worth sometimes.

Welcome to professional sports.

I'm just glad we have got actual talent to throw $600k at, I never thought Bruce was worth that...

I reckon they offer him 350k, he wants 550k, some haggling, a handshake and he signs for 450k with incentives - too easy!

Was listening to triple-m tonight. Brownless asked on show if scully and Ward are leaving... Danny Frawley fires up...."we don't talk about that.. We only talk about that when we have nothing else better to talk about" man I laughed... Danny said they have been going for months. Pretty funny I thought.

We are going to have to pay people more than they are worth sometimes.

Welcome to professional sports.

Yeah - but how much more? 15% 25% 50% 100% or more than double ? .... more than double when fitness and durability are under a cloud - and a draft and a salary cap constrain the market?

GWS has been handed extra money - and has been told to spend it.We are not being asked to match ( or nearly match) a normal premium above market price - but an artificial premium that an established club with an established list cannot possibly sustain.

Yeah - but how much more? 15% 25% 50% 100% or more than double ? .... more than double when fitness and durability are under a cloud - and a draft and a salary cap constrain the market?

GWS has been handed extra money - and has been told to spend it.We are not being asked to match ( or nearly match) a normal premium above market price - but an artificial premium that an established club with an established list cannot possibly sustain.

That 'more than double' is your subjective analysis.

The $3m over 5 years (that has been reported we have offered) may be excessive for a 20 year old, but if he travels the path I think he will travel, he will be worth that price for a couple years and possibly good value when he is 24.

The club knows what it can spend and they won't pay more than they can afford.

They have given a long term deal that they can manage and Tom will leave or sign for that manageable figure.

Never thought I'd contribute to this thread!!

Unfortunately the premature intervention of GWS has set an expectation that no 2o year old kid without a proper pre-season could ever be expected to meet.

To keep Tom we are going to have to pay him more than his form warrants - and distort the salary structure that Tim Harrington has been developing. This will put the harmony of the playing group at risk for as long as Tom remains at the club .... particularly if his troublesome knee ever curtails his output (as it has this year)

The fact is that he hasn't earned a Judd-like salary - and that we can't afford to pay him in the hope that he'll be able to lift his output from Round One next year to Judd-like levels every year until at least Round 24 2021.

Left alone he might have become a star for the MFC. As it is we need to move on without him - and use the compensation picks wisely. Unless he is prepared to stay on the same sort of salary we are giving his (better) performed peers , then we need to cut our losses and let him follow the dollar.

He may become a wealthy man - but whether he will get the satisfaction he could have got if the GWS window had never been open is problematical

my thoughts exactly, let him go FFS

That 'more than double' is your subjective analysis.

The $3m over 5 years (that has been reported we have offered) may be excessive for a 20 year old, but if he travels the path I think he will travel, he will be worth that price for a couple years and possibly good value when he is 24.

The club knows what it can spend and they won't pay more than they can afford.

They have given a long term deal that they can manage and Tom will leave or sign for that manageable figure.

You obviously rate Tom Scully very highly.

I have seen glimpses of what he may be, and he's a very exciting prospect.

But if you just step out of the circle for a moment, and imagine that he may not be what we think he'll be, or that his injuries will prevail - where does that place your viewpoint?

The question is, basically, how much faith do you have in this very young kid with potential, but with a history of injuries and subsequent poor games?

Not having a go RFPC, just think that sometimes we get a bit wrapped up in the hype.

If you look at our game against Gold Coast on the week end, the only reason why the Gold Coast can be remotely competitive is when the experienced players play well. GWS look like they will have no experienced players they are adding kids to the kids they will get in the draft. GWS will be miles behind the Gold Coast and will be well placed on the bottom ofthe ladder for the next 4 seasons and whilst on the bottom of the ladder getting pumped every week the other 17 clubs will be poaching any good players that they draft.

GWS will be the biggest failure in the AFL's history. If you want the money take it but get ready for 3-4 years of getting smashed.

Scully is a smart kid, who knows he might have agreed to stay with Dees already but been true to his words will talk about his contract at the end of the season.

From what i know Jack Trengove signed his contract 3 weeks before the announcement, so don't be surprise demons just want to surprise their fan's and get their membership up by announcing scully's decision right after the season end.

I'll be devastated if Tom stays with us because we'll have to pay him double what he's worth and that's not fair to other better performing players.I'd take 2 first round draft picks for Tom in a heartbeat,that's Gysberts & Tapscott/Blease for Scully! Would anyone take Scully over those 2?

Definately not.I hope he announces it Monday morning.

I'll be devastated if Tom stays with us because we'll have to pay him double what he's worth and that's not fair to other better performing players.I'd take 2 first round draft picks for Tom in a heartbeat,that's Gysberts & Tapscott/Blease for Scully! Would anyone take Scully over those 2?

Definately not.I hope he announces it Monday morning.

You'd be devastated?

Really?

I will see the plusses and drawbacks of both situations and how it relates to us winning a flag but I won't be 'devastated' either way.

And I personally think that Scully going for pick 8 and 20 in the 2012 draft (when we will use them is not quite good enough compensation).

Losing Scully will hurt our flag aspirations.

If he goes I hope we trade in a 23-26 year old big bodied mid who will command a place next to Moloney and Trengove in the centre bounce Rd 1, 2012.

You'd be devastated?

Really?

I will see the plusses and drawbacks of both situations and how it relates to us winning a flag but I won't be 'devastated' either way.

And I personally think that Scully going for pick 8 and 20 in the 2012 draft (when we will use them is not quite good enough compensation).

Losing Scully will hurt our flag aspirations.

If he goes I hope we trade in a 23-26 year old big bodied mid who will command a place next to Moloney and Trengove in the centre bounce Rd 1, 2012.

Who do you see as this 'someone' being rpfc? I agree with you completely.....

I'll be devastated if Tom stays with us because we'll have to pay him double what he's worth and that's not fair to other better performing players.I'd take 2 first round draft picks for Tom in a heartbeat,that's Gysberts & Tapscott/Blease for Scully! Would anyone take Scully over those 2?

Definately not.I hope he announces it Monday morning.

Everyone seems to have a different view on the Scully Saga. I'll be devastated if he leaves and I think paying him double now would be well worth it in the long run.

I think people have looked at his last few games and forgotten why he was taken at Number 1 and is so highly rated. Need to remember that he has had a very interrupted season with injury – only played 10 games.

With a full Pre-Season I think he will be blitzing.

A statistical example of how I believe Scully is being judged harshly:

Tom Scully vs. Dustin Martin:

Games TS: 31 DM: 42

Ave Disposals per game: TS 21.3 DM: 21.1

Ave Marks per game: TS: 3.3 DM: 3.0

Ave Goals per Game: TS: 0.2 DM: 1.0

Ave Tackles per Game: TS: 4.4 DM: 3.4

Considering many believe Martin is Gods gift to mankind, the stats would suggest that Scully, who has been battling injuries all year, is tracking along just nicely.

Everyone seems to have a different view on the Scully Saga. I'll be devastated if he leaves and I think paying him double now would be well worth it in the long run.

I think people have looked at his last few games and forgotten why he was taken at Number 1 and is so highly rated. Need to remember that he has had a very interrupted season with injury – only played 10 games.

With a full Pre-Season I think he will be blitzing.

He was taken at ONE because all the hype and associated ajudication of his shown ability to that date had him as 'potentially' an absolute gun.. Whats happened since is the clouds have cleared a little. There are a number of those whose jobs it is to assign relevance to junior talent whove now said that in hindsight possibly others may have been more worth y of the number ONE.

Is he still of the calibre that associates itself with the #1 pick. Well thats a debatable topic., though nearly al lwould have him in the top 10 and more that worthy of top 5. But hindsight , though clarifyiing, affords nothing but a rear view perspective. . It , having said that , can modify where you go going forward.

Without doubt hes had interuptions. Some seem quite content to overlook them all in the pursuit of reannointing the chosen one as worthy of top dollar in future years. Many others take a more circumspect view that he might be good ( might !!) but form and fitness to date require a rethink..

So much weight is given still to what he might be. So little given to what hes done. Sensibility should surely fall within.

Its a shame that we couldnt see him through a full season and judge on that, but who knows when that full season will, if ever, occur.

Who do you see as this 'someone' being rpfc? I agree with you completely.....

I don't know who will be looking to move on.

It will depend on what clubs say in October.

I would also target an older mid with leadership skills - Scott Thompson or Kane Cornes or similar.

So when do you think we will get a scully announcement. Next week or after casey finishes there season because i think they dont have mad monday until casey finishes there season.

I think Tom will be relieved at 5pm on sunday. Anyway if he goes then I think Blease can slot into his spot beautifully. His pace was amazing last week. Ive resigned to the fact he is going but if he does re-sign with us then I thnk that will shock the football world more. It would be nice to see him re-sign and prove some people wrong.

Cant wait to hear his reasons for leaving if this is the case though.

No one would admit it had an affect on the players. Not even the players themselves, even if it did.

The affect it has on someone subconsciously is a different matter all together. In this profession where team dynamics are so important, it most definitely would have had some collective affect on the team and club as a whole. The media coverage alone would have done that.

The club has handled it superbly imo, but imagine if your mate was keeping a secret from you, and you knew about it (or at least were pretty sure about it?) It would surely damage the relationship.

This is all just assumption, and I'm really just applying the basic foundations of what mateship and loyalty is all about. I'll have nothing against him taking the money and leaving, but I'll have everything against him lying about it.

He's gone.