Tom Scully in September ...

[deestar 159]

This situation is begining to make me sick ! What ever the outcome I do hope all of us brave enough get up and rattle of some home truths of reality to the mfc at next years AGM! I know I will .... I pay my memberships year in year out, I donate when asked ! The club owes us all some clear honest communication about allot this season !

[Guest Range.Rover]

A number 1 pick is one of the most prized things in footy, not only has ours bent us over, he is now showing no respect either. The way this is now being handled shows he is nothing but a child with zero class.

The focus of the anger will go to Tom initially (and fair enough but only to an extent). Then people will begin to realize who the real architects of this were ... Sheedy and Demetriou.

To lose a number 1 draft pick in this fashion is possibly the most humiliating experience this club will have sat through and the crowning lemon on our annus horribilus.

It is truly gut-wrenching.

Edited September 11, 2011 by Range.Rover

[Guest Darren Lamb]

The Sunday Footy Show - Scully at the airport, going UP TO SIGN.

Announcement as early as tomorrow.

Derm's comments - 'If you're an adult, if you're undecided, you go up there alone, not chaperoned by Mum and Dad - if you take your parents, you're showing them what you're going to be moving to'. This came about as his entire family are going with him.

Does this kid bend the truth or what?

I don't agree with that.

It's well documented that he is exceptionally close to his family, and the kids is only 19/20.

Personally, I wouldn't request for my family to be there, but if they were interested to come along and see what I could be in for, I'd happily have them accompany me.

Especially if I valued their opinion and would take it into account when making my decision.

Personally I wouldn't but I have friends who would and I see nothing wrong with it.

I seriously doubt he has done it to "show off to his parents where he'll be living" if he hasn't even seen it for himself yet.

I'd see it as more of an opportunity to have a sticky beak.

Even if I were a 10% chance to take the GWS offer I'd probably still go over to have a look out of interest, just to see what I'd be passing up.

[Guest Darren Lamb]

ie. his parents going along too is relatively meaningless.

[Samsara 65]

We should be compensated with O'Maera or someone of similar ilk considering we are losing a #1 draft pick after less than 30 games

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Whilst at first i was mortified at the prospect of losing TS, now Im in the camp of why should we pay this unproven star player with a dodgy knee more $$$ than he is worth at present and risk the ire of others in the playing group.....Geelong didn't fall over when their star player and coach left in fact they've benefited from it.

[Face Your Demons 175]

Story now up on the Hun site

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/scully-flies-to-sydney-to-inspect-gws/story-e6frf9ix-1226134024795

I hope Trengove plays on him next year and kicks his ass. Only if he does leave.

[Guest Darren Lamb]

The focus of the anger will go to Tom initially (and fair enough but only to an extent). Then people will begin to realize who the real architects of this were ... Sheedy and Demetriou.

To lose a number 1 draft pick in this fashion is possibly the most humiliating experience this club will have sat through and the crowning lemon on our annus horribilus.

It is truly gut-wrenching.

You don't make any sense.

Please tell me clearly and concisely what you think MFC would get out of a "deal" to wait and not announce that Scully has left?

[Whispering_Jack 30,036]

If he's crossing the border as we speak then the prediction I made in A HIGHWAY OF DEMONS - Chapter Nine is alas, about to come to pass.

I hope I'm wrong but I think the penultimate paragraph sums it up. A bad career move by Tom but at least he'll have the security blanket the money brings (perhaps). RR's right about it being a humiliation for the MFC, particularly because we effectively sat back and condoned the outrageous compensation rules that will set us back a little if we as a club dwell on this for too long.

The antidote is to get this club back on track, appoint a strong coach, use the resources that would otherwise have been spent on Tom, trade and draft well and get on with our lives.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

They said they were going to address this when we missed out on Judd, and then Warnock.

Problem is the timing is always terrible. we had shocking facilities etc when Judd was available.

and now just when Scully has to make up his mind, we have a shocker of a year,record losing margins, in fighting, sacked coach etc.

If we werent such a basket case we might be half a chance.

I think we need to be pragmatic about all this...

Tom Scully, before he was taken Pick 1 in the draft said that he would 'love to go to Richmond' - not a great call.

Secondly, Judd WAS NEVER coming to Melbourne. The Club couldn't afford him and his entire approach was tantamount to prostitution. Leigh Matthews called it disrespectful and making it almost a 'circus' (not unlike our ex - Tom)

Warnock was problematical - he's not that good. If the Club was a basket case (and I acknowledge there are issues) Trengove wouldn't have signed, Tapscott wouldn't have signed, Sylvia wouldn't have signed, Watts wouldn't have signed etc..

Let's keep it in perspective. If Scully going to GWS is the worse thing that happens in our lives, we're travelling beautifully.

[sue 9,102]

The focus of the anger will go to Tom initially (and fair enough but only to an extent). Then people will begin to realize who the real architects of this were ... Sheedy and Demetriou.

We don't have to wait for the outcome. Regardless of the outcome, the fact that losing a #1 pick so soon is even a possibility condemns the AFL bosses.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,825]

Almost the final nail in the coffin. Respect to those still trying to water down the situation but this news has just about done it for me!

Thanks for the memories Tom. I'll miss your sprints out of packs and floating kicks to the opposition. B)

[Pipefitter 2,159]

It's a disgusting situation. He should have just come out on monday and said it. Another attempt to repair his reputation blows up in his face. Blucher is a very poor manager. The whole situation has been a Disaster for everyone involved. I really feel sorry for people like stynes, scwhab, Lyon and the playing group who have really stuck their neck out for this kid. Defended his integrity at every crazy turn of this saga. Even if that one in a million chance he is staying (which he is not) what an insult to the club and fans you HAVE to check out someone roses backyard in the first place when you "love Melbourne", "important to be a one club player" etc etc.

Looking forward to playing GWS next year.

[Guest Range.Rover]

We don't have to wait for the outcome. Regardless of the outcome, the fact that losing a #1 pick so soon is even a possibility condemns the AFL bosses.

You are right Sue. But I hope we also have the courage to look inwardly at our own house and ask some long hard questions about what occurred here. A head or two might have to roll because of it.

To be blindsided like this shows an astounding lack of foresight at the very least.

Could we have kept him? Did we too meekly accept the AFL rules on compo as WJ says above?

The questions will always be asked. Richmond kept their boy. We couldn't.

It's embarrassing whichever way you slice it and yet another black day in the club's post 50's/60's history.

Edited September 11, 2011 by Range.Rover

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

....Whilst im not sticking up for him maybe the fact that he has got a dodgy knee and may only play a half of a normal career then the option of $$$ now would make it a lot harder to turn down.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

It is well known that TS is very family oriented. While I think he has gone, maybe, just maybe, he wants his family with him to help him make up his mind. Despite what Brereton said, TS is still a boy, who is very close to his family and the decision he is about to make will be one of the biggest in his life.

Unlike RB, I wish him well, whatever decision he makes. If he goes, it will say more about the MFC's inability to keep him, rather than TS himself. This is the stark reality that faces the MFC and needs to be addressed for the sake of our future.

The MFC is good enough for the likes of Trengove, Watts, Frawley, Petterd, Tapscott, Gawn and a whole host of other promising juniors to commit. Make of that what you will.

[beelzebub 23,350]

You don't make any sense.

Please tell me clearly and concisely what you think MFC would get out of a "deal" to wait and not announce that Scully has left?

The reality is as many are want to suggest we dont know what goes on behind closed doors. This is an extremely volatile period regarding picks and trading. The sculldugery surrounding Tom ( sorry hard to resist) is only part of the game. There are the on trades GWS has at its disposal etc etc. . There is much jockeying for position for what scraps and morsels become available. The Giants are in the box seat and we must to a point play a game or at least feign playing it if we are to emerge with booty.

So the MFC will let GWS take the lead, nothing to really gain by not doing so. Wise heads ought to prevail here.

[Damo 3,355]

Anyone with the mantra of "we dont deserve nice things..." really deserves a clip over the ear.

[Striker475 696]

Ah, stuff it.

Give both to GWS and get the Jaegerbomb.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Is Tom Scully about to sully his reputations????

I kind of agree with Dermie.. why do you need to take the family up to help you make a decision. He may be a family man- sure, but what input is Mummy and Daddy going to have at the end of the day re facilities etc. Surely this is to show them his surroundings for the life of his new contract- not seek approval.

Ergh. [censored] the big fat greek dictator and [censored] the senile Sheeds.

I want to know why we couldn't offer the kid a third party payment, like Judd gets. I don't think enough noise has been made about this point. I feel like the MFC has been discriminated against.

Either way the club goes on. Good luck playing for GWS.

If I hear him say I did this for the challenge I will fair dinkim fuckin spew!!!

[Samsara 65]

....Whilst im not sticking up for him maybe the fact that he has got a dodgy knee and may only play a half of a normal career then the option of $$$ now would make it a lot harder to turn down.

I have said this before too and it is a valid point. At the end of the day, it is his decision but I am not too fond of how this has unfolded and would have much preferred a Ward like result.

Anyway, such is life as they (including Ben Cousins) say.

[beelzebub 23,350]

Act 3 Scene 4 , Scully boards plane and waves goodbye .

all thats left is for him to ride off into the west

tick tick

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

We are a rabble, but I can't wait to see who Mr Sully blames for his departure. I hope he is at least honest and says it was for the money.

Now I'm suss about him leaving China early last year. Was he talking with GWS?

Did he lie to Jimmy's face?

The kid has balls... uber professionalism... hard nosed snake in the grass. Dog eat dog attitude. Keep your childeren away from him he will bite their heads off probably.

[Pipefitter 2,159]

What else makes me sick is GWS in general. What a smug bunch of operators. A bunch of hasbeen coaches and administrators waving around the AFLs money, demanding respect. Gold coast showed how to arrive with class and dignity. GWS are just sharks.

[Guest Darren Lamb]

Act 3 Scene 4 , Scully boards plane and waves goodbye .

all thats left is for him to ride off into the west

tick tick

The phrase "clear and concise" and your posts do not go hand in hand.

And that wasn't a good reason for us to be compliant.

You really think the club is willing to be GWS' [censored] in return for the faint chance they might do us a favourable trade later on when we have zero leverage?

I don't.

We'll soon see if your thoughts have any merit.

I very much doubt they will.